Month: oktober 2017

Reading: The Meaning of Simplicity by Yannis Ritsos
Let's do another Ritsos (1909-1990) poem today. I've read 'Injustice' before but felt like more Ritsos. You are looking at a translation by Edmund Keeley here, quoted (not 'reprinted'!) from an anthology of international poetry: The Meaning of Simplicity I hide behind simple things so you'll find me; if you don't find me, you'll find the ...
Reading: Injustice by Yannis Ritsos
Yannis Ritsos (1909-1990) is one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century (according to Luis Aragon, the greatest). Brilliant as his arcane, mythological works (The fourth dimension about the house of Atreus) are, critics consider his shorter poems that transform simple experiences into surrealist insights, his best work. Dicit George Economou: Ritsos "records, at times celebrates, ...
Meneer Boeddha heeft een dikke kont
We waren omhoog geklommen op de hemeltrappen met aan weerszijden de twaalf astrologische nutsdieren in fonkelwit gips, en bevonden ons op een keurig betegeld plateau, samen met een huizenhoge witte Boeddha. Mijn dochter van vier was onder de indruk van zijn grote oren en dikke buik, dus ik stelde haar, om haar onderzoekersgeest te stimuleren, ...
Reading: Under the poplars by Cesar Vallejo
The Peruvian poet Cesar Vallejo (1892-1938) was a very innovative poet who write lines praised for their authenticity. Edith Grossman says, he “created a wrenching poetic language for Spanish that radically altered the shape of its imagery and the nature of its rhythms […] He saw the world in piercing flashes of outrage and anguish, terror and pity
Reading: A Life by Edith Södergran
Edith Södergran (1892-1923) published 5 collections of poetry. She was one of the first modernists of Swedish-language literature. Browsing her poetry, I liked this one, called 'A life'. I read an English translation by Averill Curdy that goes as follows: A life That the stars are adamant everyone understands— but I won’t give up seeking joy ...
Conquest
The poet has the high command He lines up his cavalry of tin words In the beginning he polished them He was still learning at the time Now the poet is the barbarian who changed clothes with their general And then orders them to charge at him and there they come - How sweet their ...
Reading: The second Madrigal by Anna Swir
Today my eye fell on Polish poet Anna Swir (Świrszczyńska) (1909-1984). I read the translation by Czeslaw Milosz: The Second Madrigal A night of love exquisite as a concert from old Venice played on exquisite instruments. Healthy as a buttock of a little angel. Wise as an anthill. Garish as air blown into a trumpet. Abundant ...
Great was that chase with the hounds for the unattainable meaning of the world. And now I am ready to keep running When the sun rises beyond the borderlands of death. - Czesław Miłosz
Message to the future
I risk an early death by sitting down for this so listen: my clavicles move like daggers to write cut-throat poetry for you no jokes. no mirrors. This here is a message you cannot unread. Also, it ages less quickly than we do. When you and I have turned into dust, this thing will be ...