If you, my Dante (this I pray
You much), see Love with Lapo near,
Take heed, and then if Love you hear
Tuesday, 30 June 2020
Monday, 29 June 2020
Virgil - Giosuè Carducci
As when above parched fields the compassionate
Moon suspended, floods the summer dew with light,
Murmurs the flowing stream, the ripples scintillate,
Reflecting as they run the radiance white.
Moon suspended, floods the summer dew with light,
Murmurs the flowing stream, the ripples scintillate,
Reflecting as they run the radiance white.
Sunday, 28 June 2020
The Joys of Heaven - Thomas à Kempis
What gladsome voices rise
Through the country of the skies,
Where the Christ, with joyful face,
Smiles with Mary full of grace.
Through the country of the skies,
Where the Christ, with joyful face,
Smiles with Mary full of grace.
Saturday, 27 June 2020
Thursday, 25 June 2020
Refugees - Brian Bilston
They have no need of our help
So do not tell me
These haggard faces could belong to you or me
So do not tell me
These haggard faces could belong to you or me
Tuesday, 23 June 2020
Munich, Winter 1973 (for Y.S.) - James Baldwin
In a strange house,
a strange bed
in a strange town,
a very strange me
is waiting for you.
a strange bed
in a strange town,
a very strange me
is waiting for you.
Monday, 22 June 2020
In Search of Five Weapons - Ajt-Man
Who hasn’t been tormented by dreams?
Listen, Steppe, listen, Woods.
I’ve lost my whip made of the skin
of a camel’s neck.
Listen, Steppe, listen, Woods.
I’ve lost my whip made of the skin
of a camel’s neck.
Sunday, 21 June 2020
Adorable Things - Sei Shōnagon
The face of a child drawn on a melon.
A baby of two or so is crawling, rapidly along the ground. With his sharp eyes he catches sight of a tiny object and, picking it up with his pretty little fingers, takes it to show to a grown-up person.
A baby of two or so is crawling, rapidly along the ground. With his sharp eyes he catches sight of a tiny object and, picking it up with his pretty little fingers, takes it to show to a grown-up person.
Friday, 19 June 2020
I Want No Weeping at My Grave - Stanisław Wyspiański
1st
I want no weeping at my grave,
except my wife’s lamenting brief;
I need no tears of yours and save,
oh save yourselves the bogus grief.
I want no weeping at my grave,
except my wife’s lamenting brief;
I need no tears of yours and save,
oh save yourselves the bogus grief.
Thursday, 18 June 2020
To Live in the Borderlands - Gloria Anzaldúa
To live in the borderlands means you
are neither hispana india negra espanola
ni gabacha, eres mestiza, mulata, half-breed
caught in the crossfire between camps
while carrying all five races on your back
not knowing which side to turn to, run from;
are neither hispana india negra espanola
ni gabacha, eres mestiza, mulata, half-breed
caught in the crossfire between camps
while carrying all five races on your back
not knowing which side to turn to, run from;
Wednesday, 17 June 2020
Reflections on Death and Life..! - Norddine Zouitni
Death is
a cosmic joke
and deserves
a cosmic giggle…
a cosmic joke
and deserves
a cosmic giggle…
Tuesday, 16 June 2020
Plain Song - Pietro Aretino
I am a glutton for the thing called love,
A bigger glutton than the ones who sit
All day at table, as the full hours flit,
And hold they’re happier than the gods above.
A bigger glutton than the ones who sit
All day at table, as the full hours flit,
And hold they’re happier than the gods above.
Monday, 15 June 2020
A Sea Spell - Orla Fay
On the journey to the coast we cut through
the hillsides, tunnels locked us in darkness
while the crescent of the bay grew and grew
as the train escaped its urban harness.
the hillsides, tunnels locked us in darkness
while the crescent of the bay grew and grew
as the train escaped its urban harness.
Sunday, 14 June 2020
Spread, o spread, thou mighty word - J. F. Bahnmaier
Spread, o spread, thou mighty word.
Spread the kingdom of the Lord;
Wheresoe'er His breath h.as given
Life to beings meant for heaven.
Spread the kingdom of the Lord;
Wheresoe'er His breath h.as given
Life to beings meant for heaven.
Saturday, 13 June 2020
Sibyls - Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen
Sibyls inside adamantine caves,
Totally loveless and blind.
Totally loveless and blind.
Thursday, 11 June 2020
My Heart's Song - Aleksis Kivi
Absalon, my son, that I could have died for you, my son.
Life holds no pleasure, let me descent to hell, weeping
Life holds no pleasure, let me descent to hell, weeping
Wednesday, 10 June 2020
Tenancingo Shawl - Juan José Acevedo Vázquez
Take a shawl, good lady,
tie the fringes neat.
or, if you prefer it,
take a shawl complete.
tie the fringes neat.
or, if you prefer it,
take a shawl complete.
Tuesday, 9 June 2020
Postcards from God 1 - Imtiaz Dharker
Yes, I do feel like a visitor,
a tourist in this world
that I once made.
a tourist in this world
that I once made.
Monday, 8 June 2020
Consolation: Roses - Gennady Aygi
in your presence even the toes
are as if they remembered!
are as if they remembered!
Sunday, 7 June 2020
Trinity Sunday - Malcolm Guite
In the Beginning, not in time or space,
But in the quick before both space and time,
But in the quick before both space and time,
Saturday, 6 June 2020
If it Wasn't for the Footprints - Zelda Quakawoot
If it wasn't for the footprints
we wouldn't know about 'before'
Australia's history we have today
would not make sense anymore.
we wouldn't know about 'before'
Australia's history we have today
would not make sense anymore.
Friday, 5 June 2020
Heartfelt - Annette Freün von Droste-Hülshoff
All that I say, and every word,
and every press of my hands,
and every press of my hands,
Thursday, 4 June 2020
View from Afar - Shakila Azizzada
I’m left again with no one standing behind me,
ground pulled from under my feet.
Even the sun’s shoulders are beyond my reach.
ground pulled from under my feet.
Even the sun’s shoulders are beyond my reach.
Wednesday, 3 June 2020
Song of a Dweller in a High-Rise Block - Gülten Akın
They piled the houses high,
in front long balconies.
Far below was water
far below were trees
in front long balconies.
Far below was water
far below were trees
Tuesday, 2 June 2020
On Climbing Mount Song Near the Southern Capital - Xuanzang
A lonely peak
Tapers its way
To a summit
Cut off in the clouds
Thousands of feet above
Tapers its way
To a summit
Cut off in the clouds
Thousands of feet above
Monday, 1 June 2020
Island on the earth - Sara de Ibáñez
In the north the cold and its broken jasmine.
In the east a nightingale full of thorns.
In the south the rose in its airy mines,
and in the west a road deep in thought.
In the east a nightingale full of thorns.
In the south the rose in its airy mines,
and in the west a road deep in thought.
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