Poetry

Melancholia

trans. German Thomas Frick A field of stubble. A black wind thunders. Violet sadness unfolds, The same thoughts come back, mud surrounds the brain; Asters die, leaning on fences, And sunflowers, black and dishevelled. The dreary soul shudders silently Next to the dark and empty window.

Zh. 255

He whispers: “I won't even apologize For loving you so — Either be mine alone Or I will kill you.” It buzzes around me like a gadfly, Incessantly day after day, This same boring argument, Your black jealousy. Grief smothers — but not fatally, The wide wind dries my tears And cheerfulness begins to soothe,…

On the Road to San Romano

trans. French Richard Tillinghast Poetry like love is made in a bed. In her messed-up sheets the sun rises. Poetry lives in deep woods. She has all the room she needs. One whole side of the universe      Is ruled by a hawk's gaze,      By the dewdrop on a furled fern,      By the memory of a…

Grodek

(Trakl's last poem) At sundown the autumn woods resound With deadly weapons, the golden fields And blue lakes, the sun Moves on seriously; The night grasps Dying soldiers, the wild cries From their shattered mouths. Red clouds gather silently Over the meadows, sent by a wrathful god, Soaking up the lost blood, cool as the…

Zh. 290 Apparition

The round, hanging lanterns, Lit early, are squeaking, Ever more festively, ever brighter, The flying snowflakes glitter. And, quickening their steady gait, As if sensing some pursuit, Through the softly falling snow Under a dark blue net, the horses race. And the gilded footman Stands motionless behind the sleigh, And the Tsar looks around strangely…

Six Bits

1. LASER MAJESTY Light show at the Planetarium. Schlock music. Seven colors put through drum Majorette paces. “We saw God tonight,” Said Morgan, Yes, and She was chewing gum. 2. VOLTAIRE: ON A STATUE OF CHRIST IN JESUIT ATTIRE Admire these monks' excessive art And industry, who've dressed you, dear God! in their very robes…

Air

trans. German Stuart Freibert I made myself some air every which way. It remained nicely invisible. No one saw me petting it. We went on living together. I felt great standing there finding what I sought in the air. I was partial to it because it was all around me. And it stood by me…

Give Me Back My Rags

trans. Serbian Charles Simic with Morton Marcus Just pop into my head My thoughts the better to claw your cheek Just step in front of me My eyes the better to snap at you Just open your big mouth My silence the better to crack your jaws Just remind me of what you are My…

Rumor Has It

trans. Polish Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh The Politbureau, rumor has it, is totally controlled now by the doves. All they need is some muscle to put their liberal platform into action