I always knew that I would find a way
To love you, ever since I saw your face
Portrayed on canvas at your uncle’s place.
I trembled when we met on that March day.
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Little Zebras - Ana Ristovic
The more I read
the more books
resemble little zebras
their spines bend under the thumb
anticipating the riders
they won't buck off.
the more books
resemble little zebras
their spines bend under the thumb
anticipating the riders
they won't buck off.
Monday, 28 April 2014
Blessed Be the Hour - Walter von der Vogelweide
Blessed be the hour when first I knew her,
Her who with heart and soul did rout me;
When all my senses were aroused to woo her,
I felt her goodness hover all about me.
And now I cannot part from her again,
Because her beauty and kindness delight me,
And her red, red mouth that laughs so brightly.
Her who with heart and soul did rout me;
When all my senses were aroused to woo her,
I felt her goodness hover all about me.
And now I cannot part from her again,
Because her beauty and kindness delight me,
And her red, red mouth that laughs so brightly.
Sunday, 27 April 2014
An Evening Reflection Upon God's Grandeur Prompted by the Great Northern Lights - Mikhail Lomonosov
The day conceals its brilliant face,
And dark night covers up the fields,
Black shadows creep upon the hills,
Light's rays recede from us.
Before us gapes a well of stars -
Stars infinite, well fathomless.
And dark night covers up the fields,
Black shadows creep upon the hills,
Light's rays recede from us.
Before us gapes a well of stars -
Stars infinite, well fathomless.
Friday, 25 April 2014
A young soul - Al-Mutanabbi
A young soul in my ageing body plays,
Though time’s sharp blades my weary visage raze.
Hard biter in a toothless mouth is she,
The will may wane, but she a winner stays.
Though time’s sharp blades my weary visage raze.
Hard biter in a toothless mouth is she,
The will may wane, but she a winner stays.
Thursday, 24 April 2014
The insolvent debtor - George Cosbuc
Home walked she from the mill
Her sack was down and she
Could not lift it again.
"May I help?" "What?" "For pay!"
And in the narrow lane
Good girls shouldn't wave away
Such offers and say "nay".
That she agreed was plain.
Her sack was down and she
Could not lift it again.
"May I help?" "What?" "For pay!"
And in the narrow lane
Good girls shouldn't wave away
Such offers and say "nay".
That she agreed was plain.
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
The True Dragon - Brian Patten
St George was out walking
He met a dragon on a hill,
It was wise and wonderful
Too glorious to kill
He met a dragon on a hill,
It was wise and wonderful
Too glorious to kill
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Capystranus (introduction) - John of Capistrano
O myghty fader in heuen on hye
One god and persones thre
One god and persones thre
Monday, 21 April 2014
Seven Stanzas at Easter - John Updike
Make no mistake
If he rose at all it was as his body;
If the cells' dissolution did not reknit,
The amino acids rekindle,
The church will fall.
If he rose at all it was as his body;
If the cells' dissolution did not reknit,
The amino acids rekindle,
The church will fall.
Sunday, 20 April 2014
The day of resurrection! - John of Damascus (John Mansur)
The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.
Saturday, 19 April 2014
No, it was not the Jews who crucified - Jacobus Revius
No, it was not the Jews who crucified,
Nor who betrayed You in judgment place,
Nor who betrayed You in judgment place,
Friday, 18 April 2014
Good Friday - Maria Melendez Kelson
Jesus, I want my sins back.
My prattle, pride, and private prices?—?
climbing, clinching, clocking?—?
My prattle, pride, and private prices?—?
climbing, clinching, clocking?—?
Thursday, 17 April 2014
Ode - Amir ibn Kolthum
Ha girl! Up with the bowl! Give us our dawn draught
And do not spare the wines of al-Andarina,
And do not spare the wines of al-Andarina,
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Vondel's Lucifer (Act I, lines 173-191) - Joost van den Vondel
Belzebub:
Now picture me the bride, described from life.
Apollion:
That Nature's pencil needs, nor lesser hues
Than sunbeams. Perfect are both man and wife;
Now picture me the bride, described from life.
Apollion:
That Nature's pencil needs, nor lesser hues
Than sunbeams. Perfect are both man and wife;
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
The Garden in Samothrace - Nonnus of Panopolis
Such was that shady garden. Near flowed forth
A fountain with two springs, whence all might draw
Perennial waters cool; in many a rill
Thence had the skilful gardener trained along
From plant to plant the winding wandering stream.
A fountain with two springs, whence all might draw
Perennial waters cool; in many a rill
Thence had the skilful gardener trained along
From plant to plant the winding wandering stream.
Monday, 14 April 2014
Bringing in the Wine - Li Bai
See how the Yellow River's water moves out of heaven.
Entering the ocean, never to return.
See how lovely locks in bright mirrors in high chambers,
Though silken-black at morning, have changed by night to snow...
Entering the ocean, never to return.
See how lovely locks in bright mirrors in high chambers,
Though silken-black at morning, have changed by night to snow...
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Coming to the City Nearest You - Carol Penner
Jesus comes to Jerusalem, the city nearest you.
Jesus comes to the gate, to the synagogue,
to houses prepared for wedding parties,
to the pools where people wait to be healed,
to the temple where lambs are sold,
to gardens, beautiful in the moonlight.
He comes to the governor’s palace.
Jesus comes to the gate, to the synagogue,
to houses prepared for wedding parties,
to the pools where people wait to be healed,
to the temple where lambs are sold,
to gardens, beautiful in the moonlight.
He comes to the governor’s palace.
Saturday, 12 April 2014
Last Dream - Giovanni Pascoli
Read the translator's notes
Out of a motionless infernal
shudder and clang of steel on steel
as wagons moved toward the eternal,
a sudden silence: I was healed.
Out of a motionless infernal
shudder and clang of steel on steel
as wagons moved toward the eternal,
a sudden silence: I was healed.
Friday, 11 April 2014
Cam's Love - Hoàng Cầm
If I were young as in the days of old,
I'd take you in forever to live with me.
On each golden sundown that gently rolled,
You'd sing to my lute as in younger days.
I'd take you in forever to live with me.
On each golden sundown that gently rolled,
You'd sing to my lute as in younger days.
Thursday, 10 April 2014
The Naming of a Child - Togara Muzanenhamo
It began with a leisured cycle of turning strokes,
every breath drawing on syllables, her name dug
from each jab stirring the brown muddy water.
every breath drawing on syllables, her name dug
from each jab stirring the brown muddy water.
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
Silentium - Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev
Speak not, lie hidden, and conceal
the way you dream, the things you feel.
the way you dream, the things you feel.
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Confusion of saints with hypocrites - Jalal al-Din Rumi
Worldly senses are the ladder of earth,
Spiritual senses are the ladder of heaven.
The health of the former is sought of the leech,
The health of the latter from " The Friend."
Spiritual senses are the ladder of heaven.
The health of the former is sought of the leech,
The health of the latter from " The Friend."
Monday, 7 April 2014
Persian fopperies (Odes, I, 38) - Horace
Boy, I hate their empty shows,
Persian garlands I detest,
Bring not me the late-bloom rose
Lingering after all the rest:
Persian garlands I detest,
Bring not me the late-bloom rose
Lingering after all the rest:
Sunday, 6 April 2014
The Good Shepherd - Lope de Vega
Shepherd! who with thine amorous, sylvan song
Hast broken the slumber that encompassed me,
Who mad'st Thy crook from the accursed tree
On which Thy powerful arms were stretched so long!
Hast broken the slumber that encompassed me,
Who mad'st Thy crook from the accursed tree
On which Thy powerful arms were stretched so long!
Saturday, 5 April 2014
I Have Dreamed of You so Much - Robert Desnos
I have dreamed of you so much that you are no longer real.
Is there still time for me to reach your breathing body, to kiss your mouth and make
your dear voice come alive again?
Is there still time for me to reach your breathing body, to kiss your mouth and make
your dear voice come alive again?
Friday, 4 April 2014
It's Spring - Eduard Mörike
Spring unfurls its blue ribbon
To flutter in the air again;
To flutter in the air again;
Thursday, 3 April 2014
From Dewy Dreams - James Joyce
From dewy dreams, my soul, arise,
From love's deep slumber and from death,
For lo! the trees are full of sighs
Whose leaves the morn admonisheth.
From love's deep slumber and from death,
For lo! the trees are full of sighs
Whose leaves the morn admonisheth.
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
The sun setting - Miodrag Pavlovic
The sun setting
children shouting beneath the window
games in cold weather
children shouting beneath the window
games in cold weather
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
The Railway Station - Archibald Lampman
The darkness brings no quiet here, the light
No waking: ever on my blinded brain
The flare of lights, the rush, and cry, and strain,
No waking: ever on my blinded brain
The flare of lights, the rush, and cry, and strain,
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