Referring ironically to the Romantic tradition that “nature teaches” César Vallejo called a linden tree murmuring in the wind a “professor of sobbing” and a “technician of shouts.” He ends this poem suggesting the tree is actually no such thing. I, however, really am now an engineer of poetry. My introduction to literature is intended … More Poetic Engineering
Our official Easter post is by the Anxious Black Woman. Read it, it is important. Meanwhile I am singing the first laisse of the Song of Roland, which I like. Carles li reis, nostre emper[er]e magnes Set anz tuz pleins ad estet en Espaigne: Tresqu’en la mer cunquist la tere altaigne. N’i ad castel ki … More Une vieille chanson
Now it is the weekend, and we are stomping our feet with Henry Gray and the Cats. If I were another blogger, I would be Stephen Bess, because he goes to the most galleries, readings, bookstores, cool cafés, and interesting urban corners, and he has the best records. When I still lived in town, and … More Henry Gray
For Maundy Thursday and the Spring Equinox, which coincide today, we are listening to the Easter Saga of 17th century Icelandic poet Hallgrímur Pétursson. Unless I am gravely mistaken there is footage of both Iceland and the Faroes, where I would love to be this spring. Via Rebel Girl we are also reading Kenneth Rexroth, … More Hallgrímur Pétursson
Now it is the weekend, so we will sing: Yo soy aquél que ayer no más decía el verso azul y la canción profana, en cuya noche un ruiseñor había que era alondra de luz por la mañana. El dueño fui de mi jardín de sueño, lleno de rosas y de cisnes vagos; el dueño … More Cantos de vida y esperanza
“It’s a pity nation-making moves only through a single groove like a one-track brain that is obsessed with the one thing. It is not enough to be in power but to be power itself and there is no such thing except in the minds of people with religious notions. We are a devastated garden in … More Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: Nation-Making Moves
Dentro del vergel moriré dentro del rosal matar me han. Yo me iba, mi madre, las rosas coger, hallara la muerte dentro del vergel. Yo me iba, madre, las rosas cortar, hallara la muerte dentro del rosal. Dentro del vergel moriré, dentro del rosal matar me han. In the garden I will die In the … More Dentro del vergel
“Words are the waters which power the hydro-electricity of nations. Words are the chemicals that H20 human intercourse. Words are the rain of votes which made the harvest possible. Words are the thunderstorm when a nation is divided. Words are the water in a shattering glass when friends break into argument. Words are the acronym … More Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: On Words
In one of my classes I have just spent two weeks on some Afro-Cuban poetry and it is not because we are studying Blackness but because we are studying the ring of words and these poems contain some very good examples. As it turns out the class has a fairly large Black contingent. These students … More Motivos de son
This week I have been rereading Paul Dresman’s The Silver Dazzle of the Sun, well worth poring over for the ring of the words and in my case for the way in which it transports one to the West, that Asian painting. I have been looking at this book with its photographs of beautiful and … More Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: Paul Dresman, Ceramics
coldhearted scientist وداد 