Venice masks

Saturday 31 January 2015

Friday 30 January 2015

Like Red-Hot Lava - Maria Clara Sharupi Jua

The sun travelled from the East1
on its wings of wind
the seeds sprout
becoming words
to light up this day
my beloved

Thursday 29 January 2015

The Anvil and the Hammer - Kofi Awoonor

Caught between the anvil and the hammer
In the forging house of a new life,
Transforming the pangs that delivered me
Into the joy of new songs

Wednesday 28 January 2015

A Shout of Joy - Carl Spitteler

Oh what has changed my thought's defiant tread
To wing`ed ride on drifting clouds o'erhead?

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Three Wonders of the World - Dashdorjiin Natsagdorj

Everything is full of light; all of nature enjoying the sun is truly a wonder
Breathing, to all creatures the blessing of air is truly a wonder
Plants and animals, the nourishing water is truly a wonder
    Golden sunbeams spreading sparkling light into millions of places
    Animals, humans, plants enjoying the first warmth
    It is full of boldness and great energy

Monday 26 January 2015

Second causes only operate - Jalal al-Din Rumi

Second causes only operate in subordination to,
and form the impulsion of, the First Cause.
Air, earth, water, and fire are God's servants.
To us they seem lifeless, but to God living.

Sunday 25 January 2015

Rain grace upon us - Carol Penner

On our dry journey,
forgiveness is the water on the horizon,
and we’re the pilgrims in the desert
who cannot possibly walk there.

Saturday 24 January 2015

An Old Man - C.P. Cavafy

At the noisy end of the café, head bent
over the table, an old man sits alone,
a newspaper in front of him.

Wednesday 21 January 2015

The Night Cometh - Annie Louisa Walker

Work! for the night is coming;
  Work! through the morning hours;
Work! while the dew is sparkling;
  Work! 'mid the springing flowers;
Work! while the day grows brighter,
  Under the glowing sun;
Work! for the night is coming,—
  Night, when man's work is done.

Monday 19 January 2015

Gita Govinda 4th song - Jayadeva

With sandal smeared the bluish body,
garlanded, with yellow clothes.
With jewelled earrings on the cheeks,
to and fro the smiling roves.
Carelessly the women play.

Sunday 18 January 2015

Rapture Divine - Jacopone da Todi

When the mind's very being is gone,
Sunk in a conscious sleep,

Saturday 17 January 2015

The Forest Of Ardennes - Petrarch

Amid the wildwood's lone and difficult ways,
Where travel at great risk e'en men in arms,
I pass secure, — for only me alarms
That sun which darts of living love the rays,

Friday 16 January 2015

A bird inside the Cage - Sarojini Pattayat

I was there,
A bird inside the cage;
You came,
Sat on my cage,

Thursday 15 January 2015

There is a motionless tree - Octavio Paz

There is a motionless tree
there is another that moves forward
                a river of trees
pounds at my chest
                The green swell
of good fortune

Monday 12 January 2015

The Butterfly - Dimana Ivanova

She is tender
and fragile
as a vase of Czech porcelain

Sunday 11 January 2015

Morning - Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

As at morn's golden ray
Flee the shadows of night,
Thou true Light of the day,
Shades of ill chase away,
Give Thy people Thy light.

Saturday 10 January 2015

Cholla lass - Yi Yong-ak

You grew up kissing soft clams with colourful shells,
your eyes are blue as the sea, your face lightly tanned,
little lass.

Friday 9 January 2015

Thursday 8 January 2015

To my Daughter - Joseph Brodsky

Give me another life, and I'll be singing
in Caffè Rafaella. Or simply sitting
there. Or standing there, as furniture in the corner,
in case that life is a bit less generous than the former.

Wednesday 7 January 2015

Old Woman Brewing - Dorian Haarhoff

in war days she moved
as heady matriarch
on powder plains,

Tuesday 6 January 2015

Eventide - Nicolae Sirius

The birds, oh the birds!
In my soul they take wing

Sunday 4 January 2015

Sun is laughing - Grace Nichols

Sun is laughing
This morning she got up
On the happy side of the bed,

Saturday 3 January 2015

Ghazal - Bidel Dehlavi

Your hair shines from the sun's shadow.
Your musk lines break in the sun's letters.

Friday 2 January 2015

You work for me - Raya Wambui

You work for me.
And I’m tired of seeing, my country men bleeding
for the sake of your fees.

Thursday 1 January 2015

On the New Year - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Fate now allows us,
'Twixt the departing
And the upstarting,
Happy to be;
And at the call of
Memory cherish'd,
Future and perish'd
Moments we see.