Venice masks

Thursday 30 November 2023

Were he my child - Ukoo

Were he my child,
He should not accompany you,
This night of snow!

Wednesday 29 November 2023

A Plough And A Spade - Nguyen Trai

A plough and a spade, that's all.
A row of chrysanthemums, and orchids,
A place to plant beans: That's all I need.

Tuesday 28 November 2023

He makes the Eagles and Ocelots dance with him! - Nezahualcoyotl

He makes the Eagles and Ocelots dance with him!
Come to see the Huexotzinca:

Monday 27 November 2023

Sunday 26 November 2023

Now, a new creature - Jacopone da Todi

Now, a new creature, I in Christ am born,
     The old man stripped away; — I am new-made;

Saturday 25 November 2023

The Night You Went Away - José María Contursi

Sometimes,
when your face appears in my dreams,
fleeting and radiant as a ray of sunlight,
I feel as though your hands warm mine
as they shiver with cold, and you declare your love!

Friday 24 November 2023

Existence - Fadwa Tuqan

In life, I was a question without home;
      In the enfolding darkness,
      My answer was concealed.

Thursday 23 November 2023

At 84 - Sophie N. Bamwoyeraki

Your teeth have fled their nest. 
Dust rules over the Holy Book. 
Untouched buttons of your radio look on. 

Wednesday 22 November 2023

Songs unsung - Migjeni

Deep within me sleep songs unsung,
Which neither suffering nor joy have yet brought forth,
Which sleep on awaiting a happier day
To burst out and be sung without fear or grief.

Tuesday 21 November 2023

The Tyrian Landscape - Nonnus of Panopolis

Furrows the calm main
The Tyrian sailor with his oar,
And the ploughman, the green soil
By the sylvan shore.

Monday 20 November 2023

The National Song - Kudirka Vincas

Lithuania, our dear homeland,
Land of worthy heroes,
May your sons draw strength and vigour
From your past experience.

Sunday 19 November 2023

My Song for Today - Thérèse of Lisieux

My life is an instant, an hour passing by.
My life is but a day escaping and fleeing.
You know well, O my god! to love you on this earth
I only have today.

Saturday 18 November 2023

Man and Earth - Hayat Saif

All around one can witness
Many high-ranking and garrulous asses –
Occasionally worthy, but always affecting wisdom –
Here, these clamorous men live.

Friday 17 November 2023

Shy Request - Csokonai Vitéz Mihály

Mighty love's consuming fire
Has most deeply scorched my soul.
Cooling balm for hot desire,
Gracious tulip, make me whole.

Thursday 16 November 2023

May Gives Itself With Sweet Abandon - Lucian Blaga

We shall remember once, too late,
This simple happening, so fine,
This very bench where we are seated,
Your burning temple next to mine.

Wednesday 15 November 2023

Before Exile - Louise Mack

Here is my last good-bye,  
 This side the sea.  
Good-bye! good-bye! good-bye!  
 Love me, remember me.  
 

Tuesday 14 November 2023

We Want Land - George Cosbuc

Hungry and naked and without a home am I.
My shoulders, you have charged them with loads,
And you spit at me, and you have beaten me,
And I have been to you a dog.

Monday 13 November 2023

A blind man - Ikmal Idham

A blind man stood static
Every direction to him was the same
Uncertain, unknown
Black

Sunday 12 November 2023

Where are the tidings of union? - Hafez

Where are the tidings of union? that I may arise —
Forth from the dust I will rise up to welcome thee!
My soul, like a homing bird, yearning for Paradise,
Shall arise and soar, from the snares of the world set free.

Saturday 11 November 2023

Lament to the Spirit of War - Enheduanna

You hack down everything you see, War God!

Rising on fearsome wings
you rush to destroy our land:
raging like thunderstorms,
howling like hurricanes,
screaming like tempests,
thundering, raging, ranting, drumming,
whiplashing whirlwinds!

Friday 10 November 2023

Abe no Nakamaro - Kakinomoto no Hitomaro

When I look abroad
O'er the wide-stretched "Plain of Heaven,"

Thursday 9 November 2023

Boy And Squirrel - Juliana Horatia Ewing

Oh boy, down there, I can't believe that what they say is true!
We squirrels surely cannot have an enemy in you;
We have so much in common, my dear friend, it seems to me
That I can really feel for you, and you can feel for me.

Wednesday 8 November 2023

One drop of blood - Aistis Jonas

One drop of blood would have cleansed you,
          But in your misery you missed it,
And though we drew our strength from the old times -
          Our promises remained unfulfilled...

Monday 6 November 2023

Sunday 5 November 2023

Faith in God Amist Disasters (Sonnet XVII) - Vincenzo da Filicaja

Deaf to those flattering zephyrs from the strand, 
My fragile skiff with cautious foot I steer'd, 
And, softest gales distrusting as they veer'd, 
With this oar touch'd the wave, with that the sand.

Saturday 4 November 2023

Friday 3 November 2023

Love at my door - Anonymous

Love at my door 
Knocked and I gave him bed. 
When sleep saw this 
He took offence and fled. 
‘Give me back sleep; 
Where has he gone?’ I said. 

Thursday 2 November 2023

To Prague - Frantisek Halas

Ye faint of faith Bone gnawing time
has been her beauty giver
from wailing fields illuminated ever
those muralled texts of portals and of walls

Wednesday 1 November 2023

I Recall Your Smile - Eugenio Montale

I recall your smile, and for me it is limpid water
witnessed by chance among the stones of a riverbed.