Lewenborg has a district poet. And not just any one. Ronald IJpma earns a living as a bus driver and has had an unusual career. As a poet, Ronald wants to share positive energy with the residents. He was introduced to the neighborhood on May 11.
“I grew up in this neighborhood, which will soon be celebrating its 50th anniversary. I am also going to write something for that anniversary and recently looked at photos. A lot has changed, but it still feels like the old days to me.”
IJpma has been a driver at Qbuzz since September 2023. He runs on lines that depart or arrive in Groningen. IJpma was a campsite manager in Germany, Spain, Croatia and France for nine years and was then away from his beloved neighborhood for ten months.
He lived with his parents for the remaining two months. He does not have a permanent partner or children. “If you are somewhere out of season you really get to know the people. Spain was the most memorable time. So many nationalities on a very large campsite with 7,000 visitors.”
Asbestos inspector
“I was also an asbestos inspector for five years. That was through the father of my then girlfriend. That company was in Zoetermeer and I eventually started to dislike the amount of driving. I worked as an asbestos inventor in Winschoten.
I stopped doing that during the corona period. I did mining analyzes at the office. That wasn’t for me, I need to be among people. So now I’m on the bus to share my energy with people.”
IJpma was working with words from an early age. As a stuttering child – of which nothing is left – he sometimes wrote a small poem in the language or arithmetic notebook. He calls himself more of a wordsmith than a poet.
Playing with language ensures his happiness
He writes music and poetry, playing with language ensures his happiness: “I have a lot of lyrics in my head. Six years ago I was going through a difficult time psychologically and then I decided to come public with my lyrics. Songs for the WIJ team, for example.
And now district poet! I hope I can do something for people.”
“I became involved through the ‘The Neighborhood the World’ project. Karin Noeken asked me to write a foreword for the theater performance in the Stadsschouwburg. The idea of being a neighborhood poet was already suggested at that time.”
Lure drivers
IJpma (@justron-music) is not getting rich from it. He can take a few courses that will help with his development. He has written a song with which Qbuzz may be able to recruit drivers.
He does Spoken Word with asylum seekers in Ter Apel. “The stories there are sometimes poignant, but I think the energy they carry, the goodwill and eagerness to learn, is great!”
What drives Ronald? “Growth and potential, I only want to share positive energy with people. I sense what is happening around me. I would like to capture that in a piece of word art. I am put on at least six occasions to make something.
I would like to hear from all groups of people who have organized themselves here in the neighborhood what concerns them and turn it into a kind of column. And involve the youth.” IJpma has been appointed via VRIJDAG in de Buur and will organize poetry activities together with cultural coach Michiel Rasker.
Travel around the world
What do you do in ten years? “Then I hope to have my own bus, which has been converted into a studio and living space, and then travel around the world. And to share my word skills.”
Finally, he now does this with the readers and the message is: ‘Take others into account, so that they can do the same to you.’
‘If we don’t blind the backlight with the lights we can shine ourselves. Then the backlight can determine his or her given light with balance.
Tags: Bus driver campsite manager city poet unusual career Ronald IJpma Groningen
