I wanted to post this at The Poemarium, which is dedicated to poems I find and like, in no special order. But since I always include the original for the poems there and so far have not been able to find the text of this poem as it was written in Turkish, I'll put up... Continue Reading →
The favourite sloth
Some ideas are just so good that they should be built on and expanded indefinitely. In 1997 the then American poet laureate founded the Favorite Poem Project asking people in the US to submit their favourite poems. 18,000 people from ages 5 to 97 wrote in and from those submissions an anthology and a video... Continue Reading →
Ho Xuan Huong
While I was looking for information for my post about Huong Thanh, I came across a dozen other references to things I didn't know about Vietnam. One of these was to a woman named Ho Xuan Huong (Hồ Xuân Hương) who was probably born in the period from 1775 to 1780 and lived till 1822. Ho Xuan... Continue Reading →
Stalin’s socks and Goethe’s thistles
(NOTE - The International Year of the Potato was in 2008) I know several people who are constantly being reminded that this year we are all supposed to be celebrating the International Year of the Potato (Peru's gift to the world). The Colorado Potato Beetle (Colorado's gift to the world), the most serious insect potato pest,... Continue Reading →
Pablo Neruda – Ode to the Artichoke – Oda a la alcachofa
The tender-hearted artichoke dressed up as a warrior, erect, it built itself a little dome, it kept itself impregnable beneath its armoured leaves, beside it the raving vegetables began to frizzle,they turned themselves into tendrils, bullrushes, touching bulbs, below the ground the red-moustachioed carrot slept, the vine dried out its shoots through which wine climbs,... Continue Reading →
Austin Kleon’s Blackout Poetry
At last something interesting you can do with a newspaper. Get a permanent marker and blackout all the words which stand in the way of an original poem. That is what Austin Kleon has done and he is very good at it. You can see other examples at his website . It makes you want... Continue Reading →
The Poemarium (2)
Which of you owns that red moon, children ? That is the entirety of a poem by Kobayashi Issa. It has the magic of successful haiku. It makes a pinpoint in the wall surrounding us and lets in a flood of surprising images and thoughts. I by now have my own story sprung by these few... Continue Reading →
The Poemarium
I have set up a new site called "The Poemarium" at http://www.thepoemarium.wordpress.com. The idea is very simple. I intend to post one poem a day there from the books I have on my shelves. There won't be any special order; as in an aquarium you won't be able to predict which poem is going to... Continue Reading →
Wisława Szymborska – A word on statistics -Przyczynek do statystyki
Out of every hundred people those who always know better: fifty-two. Unsure of every step: almost all the rest. Ready to help, if it doesn't take long: forty-nine. Always good, because they cannot be otherwise: four -- well, maybe five. Able to admire without envy: eighteen. Led to error by youth (which passes): sixty, plus... Continue Reading →
Orhan Veli – Istanbul’u dinliyorum – I am listening to Istanbul
by Orhan Veli (1914- 1950) - English translation by Murat Nemet-Nejat from I, Orhan Veli I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed First a breeze is blowing And leaves swaying Slowly on the trees; Far, far away the bells of the Water carriers ringing, I am listening to Istanbul with my eyes closed.... Continue Reading →