Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.
Saturday, 30 November 2013
Friday, 29 November 2013
A boy's head - Miroslav Holub
In it there is a space-ship
and a project
for doing away with piano lessons.
and a project
for doing away with piano lessons.
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Tempus fugit - Lothar Schwabe
How do I measure time?
In years that start at midnight
On a wintry day?
In years that start at midnight
On a wintry day?
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Jack Frost - Gabriel Setoun
The door was shut, as doors should be,
Before you went to bed last night;
Yet Jack Frost has got in, you see,
And left your window silver white.
Before you went to bed last night;
Yet Jack Frost has got in, you see,
And left your window silver white.
Monday, 25 November 2013
Scrawled in pencil in a sealed railway car - Dan Pagis
here in this transport
Sunday, 24 November 2013
I Will Just Say This - St Teresa of Ávila
We
bloomed in Spring.
bloomed in Spring.
Saturday, 23 November 2013
When everything in life’s haze - Maksym Rylsky
When everything in life’s haze
Is lost and leaves no traces,
You don’t feel like leaving home or going home,
Because even there the fire has long ago burned out —
Is lost and leaves no traces,
You don’t feel like leaving home or going home,
Because even there the fire has long ago burned out —
Friday, 22 November 2013
The bright field - R. S. Thomas
I have seen the sun break through
to illuminate a small field
to illuminate a small field
Thursday, 21 November 2013
We are Like Worlds - Roy Campbell
We bear to future times the secret news
That first was whispered to the new-made earth:
We are like worlds with nations in our thews,
Shaped for delight, and primed for endless birth.
That first was whispered to the new-made earth:
We are like worlds with nations in our thews,
Shaped for delight, and primed for endless birth.
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Nighthawks: after Edward Hopper's painting - Wolf Wondratschek
It is night
and the city is deserted.
and the city is deserted.
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
The day breaks quietly - Ryokan
Morning — cutting firewood, filling my jug
Monday, 18 November 2013
When you were reading those tormented lines - Afanasy Afanasevich Fet
When you were reading those tormented lines
In which the heart's resonant flame sends out glowing streams
And passion's fatal torrents rear up,—
Didn't you recall a single thing?
In which the heart's resonant flame sends out glowing streams
And passion's fatal torrents rear up,—
Didn't you recall a single thing?
Sunday, 17 November 2013
Genesis - Ina Kontvainytė
When I was Eve a hundred million years ago
You laughed
That same laugh,
Tolerant, and amused, delighted I was Woman
You laughed
That same laugh,
Tolerant, and amused, delighted I was Woman
Saturday, 16 November 2013
Some Summers and Springs (no. 5) - Jaan Kaplinski
God has left us — I felt it clearly
digging the earth around a rhubarb plant.
digging the earth around a rhubarb plant.
Friday, 15 November 2013
The Stars - Edith Södergran
When night comes
I stand on the steps and listen.
I stand on the steps and listen.
Thursday, 14 November 2013
You’re here - Boris Pasternak
You’re here. We breathe the self same air.
Your presence here is like the city,
like quiet Kiev wrapped in sultry
sunbeams there outside the window.
Your presence here is like the city,
like quiet Kiev wrapped in sultry
sunbeams there outside the window.
Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Shores of Silence (5) - Karol Wojtyla
Love explained all for me,
all was resolved by love,
to this love I adore
wherever it may be.
all was resolved by love,
to this love I adore
wherever it may be.
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Falling in love - S.J. Pedro Arrupe
Nothing is more practical than
finding God, that is, than
falling in love
finding God, that is, than
falling in love
Monday, 11 November 2013
Yes - Brian Kennelly
I love the word
And hear its long struggle with no
Even in the bird’s throat and budging crocus.
Some winter’s night
I see it flood the faces
Of my friends, ripen their laughter
And plant early flowers in
Their conversation.
And hear its long struggle with no
Even in the bird’s throat and budging crocus.
Some winter’s night
I see it flood the faces
Of my friends, ripen their laughter
And plant early flowers in
Their conversation.
Sunday, 10 November 2013
God and Galaxies (poem for Remembrance Day) - Bruce Levitan
God knows; is who knows why
Life spirals like galaxies
Faintly glimmering in the sky.
He alone is the One who sees
Our bright paths on the starry gauze.
He was there in all the wars
Waiting for us to understand the cause.
Life spirals like galaxies
Faintly glimmering in the sky.
He alone is the One who sees
Our bright paths on the starry gauze.
He was there in all the wars
Waiting for us to understand the cause.
Saturday, 9 November 2013
Photograph from September 11 - Wislawa Szymborska
They jumped from the burning floors –
one, two, a few more,
higher, lower.
one, two, a few more,
higher, lower.
Friday, 8 November 2013
You who wronged - Czesław Miłosz
You who wronged a simple man
Bursting into laughter at the crime,
And kept a pack of fools around you
To mix good and evil, to blur the line.
Bursting into laughter at the crime,
And kept a pack of fools around you
To mix good and evil, to blur the line.
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Priceless Gifts - Anna Swir
An empty day without events.
And that is why
it grew immense
as space. And suddenly
happiness of being
entered me.
And that is why
it grew immense
as space. And suddenly
happiness of being
entered me.
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
10,000 years for each earth citizen - john tiong chunghoo
the earth has enough years
to give every of its citizens
10,000 years or more
to live alone on the planet
to give every of its citizens
10,000 years or more
to live alone on the planet
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Li Fu-jen - Wu-ti
The sound of her silk skirt has stopped.
On the marble pavement dust grows.
On the marble pavement dust grows.
Monday, 4 November 2013
a thousand gallons - Kobayashi Issa
a thousand gallons
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Alone At Your Feet - Sant Tukaram
Consider me yours;
for I worship You, Lord.
In the company of saints,
my spirit soared.
for I worship You, Lord.
In the company of saints,
my spirit soared.
Saturday, 2 November 2013
The Flowers - Stéphane Mallarmé
From golden showers of the ancient skies,
On the first day, and the eternal snow of stars,
You once unfastened giant calyxes
For the young earth still innocent of scars:
On the first day, and the eternal snow of stars,
You once unfastened giant calyxes
For the young earth still innocent of scars:
Friday, 1 November 2013
Autumn Evening - Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev
There is a wistful charm, a tenderness,
Mysterious and soft, in autumn's even:
The trees in weird and brilliant garments dress,
The gory leaves to whispered talk are given;
Mysterious and soft, in autumn's even:
The trees in weird and brilliant garments dress,
The gory leaves to whispered talk are given;
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