Venice masks

Thursday 27 September 2018

Gazel - Nejati

Truth this: a lasting home hath yielded ne'er earth's spreading plain;
Scarce e'en an inn where may the caravan for rest remain.

Wednesday 26 September 2018

Nan Pix Pix - Rigoberta González Sul

A piece of land
with trees, mountains and a
beautiful cistern of water

Tuesday 25 September 2018

Hidden Power - Herman Talingapua

Slowly the moon climbs
along its silvery path
over Kumbu mountain.

Monday 24 September 2018

Sunday 23 September 2018

Friday 21 September 2018

Fickle - Jan Andrzej Morsztyn

Sooner will a man the winds ensnare, and sooner still
With tiny bits of sunny rays his pocket fill;

Thursday 20 September 2018

Drained Pond - Petr Borkovec

March flies swarm and spill.
Blistered prints of dragon-flies and frogs.

Wednesday 19 September 2018

Wisdom - Denis V. Davydov

While quaffing the grape's ruby nectar.
All sportingly, laughingly gay,
We determined— I, Silvya, and Hector —
To drive old dame Wisdom away.

Tuesday 18 September 2018

Blow, blow, thou vernal gale! - James Beattie

Blow, blow, thou vernal gale!
Thy balm will not avail
To ease my aching breast;
Though thou the billows smooth,
Thy murmurs cannot soothe
My weary soul to rest.

Monday 17 September 2018

Staring at the distance - Fernando Pessoa

Staring at the distance, mountains with snow and sun,
But the quiet cold is soft already
Which smooths and sharps
The darts of the high sun.

Sunday 16 September 2018

Gazal - Fużūlī

O thou Perfect Being, Source whence wisdom's mysteries arise;
Things, the issue of thine essence, show wherein thy nature lies.

Saturday 15 September 2018

The Basket of Wool - Jaime Saenz

Desiring yet unable, I dreamt myself in this room sleeping and I dreamt myself being able,
making a basket of wool toll like a bell to keep myself sleeping,
and wanting them to come not come, and to make not make a basket of wool toll like a bell prompting a sadness without desire,

Friday 14 September 2018

On Autumn - Lâmiî Çelebi

O sad heart, come, distraction's hour is now high,
The air's cool, 'midst the elds to sit the time nigh.

Thursday 13 September 2018

Triolet - Manuel Gonzalez Prada

Whatever joys might crown this life of ours
will either fail to come or come too late.

Wednesday 12 September 2018

Forced March - Miklós Radnóti

Crazy.  He stumbles, flops, gets up,            and trudges on again.
He moves his ankles and his knees            like one wandering pain,
then sallies forth, as if a wing            lifted him where he went,

Tuesday 11 September 2018

An Ode to Queen Mumbi - Waithira Mbuthia

She wears a crown
In most unconventional place,
Where daughters left
Their names enshrined
In nine stretchmarks:1

Monday 10 September 2018

Zémidjan - Enyam Scandalocks

In this city of Lomé
There are so many drunk guys
That to not see his life in the water
We opt for this modest job

Sunday 9 September 2018

I am a Muslim - Sohrab Sepehri

I am a Muslim:
The rose is my qibla.
The stream my prayer-rug,
the sunlight my clay tablet.

Saturday 8 September 2018

You & I - Mahmood Jamal

You want to speak of War
I want to speak of Peace.

Friday 7 September 2018

The Crazed Hour - Mohammed Dib

The crazed hour roams. Dark
You will recognize her
By her pall of dark hate,
Her pull of wind and cries.

Wednesday 5 September 2018

Revival - Liyou Libsekal

The gate-guard is at special attention
positioned in highland chill
new gold buttons and a collar
hand-twined blanket in a
dejected corner

Tuesday 4 September 2018

Monday 3 September 2018

I met a thief - A.S. Bukenya

On the beach, on the coast,
Under the idle, whispering coconut towers,
Before the growling, foaming, waves,
I met a thief, who guessed I had
An innocent heart for her to steal.

Sunday 2 September 2018

O Jesus, Joy of Angel Choirs - Rabanus Maurus

O Jesus, joy of angel choirs.
Thou Sire and Saviour of the race,
Illume our souls with pure desires,
And lead us heavenward by thy grace.