Cease searching for the perfect shell, the whole
Inviolate form no tooth of time has cracked;
The alabaster armor still intact
From sand’s erosion and the breaker’s roll.
Sunday, 31 July 2016
Saturday, 30 July 2016
Mangroves - Kenneth Slessor
These black bush-waters, heavy with crusted boughs
Like plumes above dead captains, wake the mind...
Like plumes above dead captains, wake the mind...
Thursday, 28 July 2016
Whited Sepulchre - John Ngong Kum Ngong
I know whited sepulchre
you do not feel anymore
the touch of our done fingers
which for want of acceptance
cling to the wall of furore.
For close to sixty years
now we have lived like internees
working our fingers to the bone
for idiots to reap the harvest.
you do not feel anymore
the touch of our done fingers
which for want of acceptance
cling to the wall of furore.
For close to sixty years
now we have lived like internees
working our fingers to the bone
for idiots to reap the harvest.
Wednesday, 27 July 2016
Watching the River Flow - Jaime Saenz
When the hour comes I'll speak with you, watching the river flow, at the river's edge.
Sunday, 24 July 2016
I Have A White Rose To Tend (Verse XXXIX) - José Martí
I have a white rose to tend
In July as in January;
In July as in January;
Saturday, 23 July 2016
Teach Me Peace - Nathan
Mother, teach me peace.
Everyone is making war, and we hardly ever see peace.
At school, I learn these things…
Everyone is making war, and we hardly ever see peace.
At school, I learn these things…
Friday, 22 July 2016
Mother Africa - Ribka Sibhatu
Cradle of mankind
baobab of the soul,
in your savannahs
and sacred forests
death dances.
baobab of the soul,
in your savannahs
and sacred forests
death dances.
Thursday, 21 July 2016
The Fence - Lenrie Peters
There where the dim past and future mingle
their nebulous hopes and aspirations
there I lie.
their nebulous hopes and aspirations
there I lie.
Wednesday, 20 July 2016
A left hand made verse 1 - Kato Javakhishvili
As human creatures do not recognize each other
I think: it’s time for us to stand one after another.
And some time ago, - it was when
I was wrapped in your body as in the wool blanket
I think: it’s time for us to stand one after another.
And some time ago, - it was when
I was wrapped in your body as in the wool blanket
Tuesday, 19 July 2016
Caudal (The Fortune) - Miguel Ángel Asturias
To give is to love,
To give prodigiously:
For every drop of water
To return a torrent.
To give prodigiously:
For every drop of water
To return a torrent.
Monday, 18 July 2016
This Is The Dark Time, My Love - Martin Carter
This is the dark time, my love,
All round the land brown beetles crawl about
The shining sun is hidden in the sky
All round the land brown beetles crawl about
The shining sun is hidden in the sky
Sunday, 17 July 2016
No words - Olufunke Kolapo
Today, I have no words
Qualified enough to describe
The depth of my pain
Qualified enough to describe
The depth of my pain
Saturday, 16 July 2016
To the cushag's friend - Cushag
O the cushag flower in a fairy bower
Would shine like a star of gold;
But when it grows in the farmer’s close
‘Tis a shocking weed, we’re told.
Yet common things
May have their wings
To help our souls above;
And wayside weeds,
Like kindly deeds,
Spring from a father’s love.
Would shine like a star of gold;
But when it grows in the farmer’s close
‘Tis a shocking weed, we’re told.
Yet common things
May have their wings
To help our souls above;
And wayside weeds,
Like kindly deeds,
Spring from a father’s love.
Friday, 15 July 2016
The High Peak - Bruce Levitan
A mown field with black-wrapped bales
Like pieces from a checkers game, thrown by a giant;
A sky of monochromes: chalks and shales
Arching above the High Peak hills, brooding and defiant;
Like pieces from a checkers game, thrown by a giant;
A sky of monochromes: chalks and shales
Arching above the High Peak hills, brooding and defiant;
Thursday, 14 July 2016
Where am I from? - Fatoumata Diallo
Where am I from?
I come from these people who get up with cows
I come from these people who get up with cows
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
Unsung Hero - Mwiza Mnyuma Sambo Mhango
"O God, bless our land of Malawi."
a prayer for a warm-hearted nation,
a prayer for a warm-hearted nation,
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
For Us, Life - Jang Jin-sung
Every morning
when I wake
I shake my brother
to and fro – his lungs are weak.
when I wake
I shake my brother
to and fro – his lungs are weak.
Monday, 11 July 2016
Sea Grapes - Derek Walcott
That sail which leans on light,
tired of islands,
a schooner beating up the Caribbean
tired of islands,
a schooner beating up the Caribbean
Sunday, 10 July 2016
If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller - Moncef Ouahibi
In the morning, when water was falling in threads, I was putting my first sentence in order
I would write it and cross it out to write it
I would write it and cross it out to write it
Saturday, 9 July 2016
A Memory - Yi Chongbo
I'll never forget the boy
who slept here last night.
who slept here last night.
Friday, 8 July 2016
One Day In June - Ebrahim Al-Arrayedh
One day in June
Her shapely hand was raised, and waving still
To those colourful columns filing past
Her shapely hand was raised, and waving still
To those colourful columns filing past
Thursday, 7 July 2016
"Fire" First State: Voice of Panic - Rogelio Sinán
Soundless, moanless, wordless sirens
silent song that was heard by death alone
nailed agonies into the night.
silent song that was heard by death alone
nailed agonies into the night.
Wednesday, 6 July 2016
Phobia - Abigail Lim
The tears I shed tonight
Are not ones of sadness
It’s a stunning realisation
Of what I fear most
That one day you’ll betray me
Are not ones of sadness
It’s a stunning realisation
Of what I fear most
That one day you’ll betray me
Tuesday, 5 July 2016
Slow Dance - Charles Mwewa
Like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle,
Flesh to flesh, skin to skin
Flesh to flesh, skin to skin
Monday, 4 July 2016
Night Has Fallen - Raage Ugaas
Night had fallen and behind closed doors everyone was sleeping
Thunder called out with a clamour of rain like shots from a thousand rifles
Thunder called out with a clamour of rain like shots from a thousand rifles
Sunday, 3 July 2016
Veni Creator Spiritus - Charlemagne
Creator Spirit, by whose aid
The world’s foundations first were laid,
Come, visit every pious mind;
Come, pour thy joys on human kind;
From sin and sorrow set us free,
And make thy temples worthy thee.
The world’s foundations first were laid,
Come, visit every pious mind;
Come, pour thy joys on human kind;
From sin and sorrow set us free,
And make thy temples worthy thee.
Saturday, 2 July 2016
Promenade of Solitary Death - Edouard Glissant
The sad boy has not moved
On a lake of roses, strewn
With pale bodies in the rosebushes
Funereal bay it has remained
On a lake of roses, strewn
With pale bodies in the rosebushes
Funereal bay it has remained
Friday, 1 July 2016
Namibia - Mvula Ya Nangolo
I’ve returned here for many a reason
I’ll certainly live here for many a season
Like thousands of others I hear its heartbeat
My heart opens up when I am in the mountains
Where I can be alone with my thoughts
I’ll certainly live here for many a season
Like thousands of others I hear its heartbeat
My heart opens up when I am in the mountains
Where I can be alone with my thoughts
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