Bakchylides – Invitation

 Poems  No Responses »
Nov 212010
 

I cannot promise at my hearth
great slabs of beef, and gold,
and deep red carpet,
but only the loving-kindness
of your host, and music,
and clay crocks of local wine.

translated by Brooks Haxton

 Posted by  Tagged with: ,

John Burnside – Prayer

 Poems  No Responses »
Nov 212010
 

Give me a little less
with every dawn:
colour, a breath of wind,
the perfection of shadows,

till what I find, I find
because it’s there,
gold in the seams of my hands
and the desk lamp, burning.

 Posted by  Tagged with:

Vikram Seth – All you who sleep tonight

 Poems  No Responses »
Nov 212010
 

All you who sleep tonight
Far from the ones you love,
No hand to left or right
And emptiness above -

Know that you aren’t alone
The whole world shares your tears,
Some for two nights or one,
And some for all their years.

 Posted by

Archilochos: “Learn the rhythm which binds all men.”

 Poems  No Responses »
Nov 202010
 

Will, lost in a sea of trouble,
Rise, save yourself from the whirlpool
Of the enemies of willing.
Courage exposes ambushes.
Steadfastness destroys enemies.
Keep your victories hidden.
Do not sulk over defeat.
Accept good. Bend before evil.
Learn the rhythm which binds all men.

translated by Kenneth Rexroth

 Posted by  Tagged with: ,

William Butler Yeats – Four Ages of Man

 Poems  No Responses »
Nov 202010
 

He with body waged a fight,
But body won; it walks upright.
Then he struggled with the heart;
Innocence and peace depart.
Then he struggled with the mind;
His proud heart he left behind.
Now his wars on God begin;
At stroke of midnight God shall win.

 Posted by
Page 2 of 2412345...1020...Last »
© 2012 < t e r r i b l y   c u n e i f o r m > Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha