Alexis de Roode Comments

Alexis de Roode (Hulst,8 October 1970) , is a Dutch poet. He grew up in Nijmegen and studied geology in Utrecht. De Roode had his first performances on poetry slams in 2004, in the Netherlands. He debuted in 2005 with the poetry collection 'Give me a miracle'.

The poems in his first collection displayed an awareness of tradition and form. In their seemingly carefree nature, they could be moving. And funny too, because of the often unexpected twists and turns.

''A collection that makes the language glitter like a gushing fountain in the sun'', said the jury that nominated Alexis de Roode for the C. Buddingh Prize in 2006 for his debut book, 'Give Me a Miracle'. A dozen years later, the poet, who was also praised for his ''grotesque play with language'', has grown into a distinct voice in the Dutch poetry landscape.

You could call de Roode a poet with a mission, one that never becomes too insistent. 'Free Time for Everyone' (2010) reads as a calm attempt to make people aware again of time and of their origin and place in the universe.