Venice masks

Sunday 25 February 2018

Pone Luctum Magdalena - Adam of St. Victor

Still thy sorrow, Magdalena!
      Wipe the tear-drops from thine eyes
Not at Simon's board thou kneelest,
      Pouring thy repentant sighs:
All with thy glad heart rejoices;
All things sing with happy voices:
      Hallelujah!

Friday 23 February 2018

Head Ransom (excerpt) - Snorri Sturluson

West over water I fared
bearing poetry's waves to the shore
of the war-god's heart;

Friday 9 February 2018

The Forty Mile Bush - Austral

Fan in the forest’s aromatic shade
     We rode, one afternoon of golden ease;
The long road ran through sunshine and through shade,
     Lulled by the somnolent stories of the trees.

Thursday 8 February 2018

How frail are riches and their joys - Hatim al-Tai

How frail are riches and their joys?
Morn builds the heap which eve destroys;
Yet can they leave one sure delight—
The thought that we've employ'd them right.

Wednesday 7 February 2018

Toki-no-Ge (Satori poem) - Muso Soseki

Year after year
      I dug in the earth
            looking for the blue of heaven

Tuesday 6 February 2018

Love your children - Michael Theophilus Dom

Listen my friend, love your children.
Not only their birth, but who being;
Not only their lives, but how to;
Not only their laughter, but why so;
Not only their walking, but where to;

Sunday 4 February 2018

Glory, and honour, and laud be to Thee, King - Theodulf of Orléans

Glory, and honour, and laud be to Thee, King, Christ the Redeemer!
Children before whose steps raised their hosannas of praise.
Glory, and honour, and laud be to Thee, King, Christ the Redeemer!

Saturday 3 February 2018

Friday 2 February 2018

Defeat - Rafael Cadenas

I who have never had a trade
who have felt weak facing every competitor
who lost the best titles for life

Thursday 1 February 2018

He sat down in his chair - Mercedes Durand

He sat down in his chair
after watching
thirty thousand peasants die.