Sonnet XX: I Always Knew - Louise Labé

It was prophesied that, some fine day,

I would love deeply one whose figure

was described; and with never a picture,

I knew him, finding him, on my way.

Little Zebras - Ana Ristovic

The more I read
the more books
resemble little zebras
their spines bend under the thumb
anticipating the riders
they won't buck off.

Blessed Be the Hour - Walter von der Vogelweide

Blessed be the hour when first I knew her,
Her who with heart and soul did rout me;
When all my senses were aroused to woo her,
I felt her goodness hover all about me.
And now I cannot part from her again,
Because her beauty and kindness delight me,
And her red, red mouth that laughs so brightly.

An Evening Reflection Upon God's Grandeur Prompted by the Great Northern Lights - Mikhail Lomonosov

The day conceals its brilliant face,
And dark night covers up the fields,
Black shadows creep upon the hills,
Light's rays recede from us.
Before us gapes a well of stars -
Stars infinite, well fathomless.

A young soul - Al-Mutanabbi

A young soul in my ageing body plays,
Though time’s sharp blades my weary visage raze.

Hard biter in a toothless mouth is she,
The will may wane, but she a winner stays.

The insolvent debtor - George Cosbuc

Home walked she from the mill
Her sack was down and she
Could not lift it again.
"May I help?" "What?" "For pay!"
And in the narrow lane
Good girls shouldn't wave away
Such offers and say "nay".
That she agreed was plain.

The True Dragon - Brian Patten

St George was out walking
He met a dragon on a hill,
It was wise and wonderful
Too glorious to kill

Capystranus (introduction) - John of Capistrano

O myghty fader in heuen on hye
One god and persones thre

Seven Stanzas at Easter - John Updike

Make no mistake
If he rose at all it was as his body;
If the cells' dissolution did not reknit,
The amino acids rekindle,
The church will fall.

The day of resurrection! - John of Da­mas­cus (John Mansur)

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.