Hendrik Marsman

Under the influence of the German Expressionists, Marsman made his literary debut about 1920 with rhythmic free verse, which attracted notice for its aggressive independence.

His last book of verse, Tempel en kruis (1940; "Temple and Cross"), an autobiographical account of the poet's development, reaffirms humanistic ideals.

After obtaining a Portuguese visa in Bordeaux, France, on June 18, 1940 from the Consul-General Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Marsman boarded a ship bound for England.

Allied sources reports that the Champlain went to the bottom after being damaged by an air laid magnetic mine off La Pallice at 09.30 hours on 17 June.

In knowledge of these sources, the torpedo report of U-65 claims the Champlain as his own success, but date, time and position are well fitting with the loss of the Berenice.

In Holland the U-boat-attack on the Berenice is considered to be a persistent myth, stimulated by his widow and admirers of the poet who wanted his death to be more heroic.The only surviving passenger was Marsman's wife Rien Barendregt.

[9] In poems including "Vrees"[10] ('Fear'), describing "the moment that the bullet won't miss", "Zinkend ship"[11] ('Sinking ship'), "De Overtocht"[12] (The Passage [by boat]) some see signs of Henrik Marsman predicting his own moment of dying and his fear "dat de dood het einde niet is" ('that dead is not the end').

maar schokkend steigert zij den hemel in als een blauw paard van Marc in 't luchtgareel

doch zuckend bäumt sie sich in den Himmel wie ein blaues Pferd von Marc im Luftgeschirr

the sun is yellow "De anatomische les: Marsman’s ‘Poetics’ 1926 — with a Sidelong Glance at Coenen, Gorter, Emants, and the Movement of Tachtig."