Monday, September 17, 2007

491. Robert Hass - Heroic Simile

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. When the swordsman fell in Kurosawa's Seven Samurai in the gray rain, in Cinemascope and the Tokugawa dynasty, he fell straight as a p...
Friday, September 14, 2007

490. The Great Figure - William Carlos Williams

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Among the rain and lights I saw the figure 5 in gold on a red firetruck moving tense unheeded to gong clangs siren howls and wheels rumbling...
Wednesday, September 12, 2007

489. No Title Required - Wislawa Szymborska

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Translated from the Polish by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh It's come to this: I'm sitting under a tree, beside a river on ...
Tuesday, September 11, 2007

488. When They Are Found - C. P. Cavafty

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. Try to guard them, poet, however few there are that can be kept. The visions of your loving. Set them, half hidden, in your phrases. Try t...
Monday, September 10, 2007

487. The First Dream - Billy Collins

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. The Wind is ghosting around the house tonight and as I lean against the door of sleep I begin to think about the first person to dream, ho...
Friday, September 07, 2007

486. This Is A Wonderful Poem - David Wagoner

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. Come at it carefully, don't trust it, that isn't its right name, It's wearing stolen rags, it's never been washed, its bre...
Thursday, September 06, 2007

485. Finalities - C. P. Cavafy

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Translated from the Greek by Rae Dalven Plunged in fear and suspicions, with agitated mind and frightened eyes, we melt, and plan how to act...
Wednesday, September 05, 2007

484. Voices - C. P. Cavafy

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Translated from the Greek by Rae Dalven Ideal and dearly beloved voices of those who are dead, or of those who are lost to us like the dead....
Tuesday, September 04, 2007

483. N. V. N. - Anna Akhmatova

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(1915) Translated from the Russian by Jane Kenyon and Vera Sandomirsky Dunham There is a sacred, secret line in loving which attraction and ...
Monday, September 03, 2007

482. In Favor Of One's Time - Frank O'Hara

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. The spent purpose of a perfectly marvellous life suddenly glimmers and leaps into flame it's more difficult than you think to make cha...
Friday, August 31, 2007

481. Litany - Billy Collins

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You are the bread and the knife, The crystal goblet and the wine . . . ––Jacques Crickillon You are the bread and the knife, the cr...
Wednesday, August 29, 2007

480. The Ball - Wislawa Szymborska

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Translated from the Polish by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh. As long as nothing can be known for sure (no signals have been picked ...
Monday, August 27, 2007

479. An Offer Received In This Morning's Mail - Amy Gerstler

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(On misreading an ad for a set of CDs entitled "Beethoven's Complete Symphonies.") The Musical Heritage Society invites you to...
Friday, August 24, 2007

478. Time - Carlos Drummond de Andrade

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Translated from the Portuguese by Laila Chris Who had this brilliant idea of cutting the time in slices Slices which were named YEARS He was...
Thursday, August 23, 2007

477. Keeping Things Whole - Mark Strand

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. In a field I am the absence of field. This is always the case. Wherever I am I am what is missing. When I walk I part the air and always t...
Monday, August 20, 2007

476. Consciousness - Wislawa Szymborska

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Translated from the Polish by Walter Whipple Consciousness does not vanish as dreams do. No noise, no bell scares her off, nor does any shou...
Friday, August 10, 2007

475. An Offer Received In This Morning's Mail - Amy Gerstler

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(On misreading an ad for a set of CDs entitled "Beethoven's Complete Symphonies.") The Musical Heritage Society invites you to...
Thursday, August 09, 2007

474. Looking For Poetry - Carlos Drummond de Andrade

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Translated from the Portuguese by Mark Strand Don't write poems about what's happening. Nothing is born or dies in poetry's pres...
Wednesday, August 08, 2007

473. Kyrielle - John Payne

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[EB: Kyrielle - French verse form in short, usually octosyllabic, rhyming couplets. The couplets are often paired in quatrains and are cha...
Tuesday, August 07, 2007

472. Thursday - William Carlos Williams

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. I have had my dream––like others–– and it has come to nothing, so that I remain now carelessly with feet planted on the ground and look up...