This sonnet “in praise of a poetess called Antonia” is a tautogram: all of the words start with the same letter. It is not clear to me whether I understand it. I may have to translate it, and/or look up a commentary. A summary, as Antrobiótica points out, would be to join the first and … More Tautogram

This is a famous poem by Garcilaso de la Vega. Everyone always quotes from it, or excerpts it, and I have decided it is time to write down the entire text, for those of us who have not memorized it. I have not found an English translation. It is a very melodious poem, flexible at … More Oda ad florem Gnidi

The politicians have shown that they are not the answer to our suffering. The poor are just made the ladders of the politicians. The politician is an animal that hibernates. They always come out in the election season to make empty promises and then they disappear. But we know that lies are for the time … More M’du Hlongwa

Landis Everson is a poet with five new poems and fourteen mostly old photographs in Jacket 26 (October 2004). He has two new poems in the American Poetry Review 35:1 (January/February 2006), a sexy one in Shampoo 26 (January 2006), and many others recently published and forthcoming. He won the 2005 Emily Dickinson Award. This … More Landis Everson

In Santiago de Chile we saw several hand-lettered placards saying: TAROT READINGS: 5,000 PESOS. AURA CLEANSINGS: 7,000 PESOS. REPAIR OF REMOTE CONTROL DEVICES: 10,000 PESOS. Call Amalio at 777-1001. This, meanwhile, explains a great deal: What is your age according to your lifestyle habits? Age 21. “You have the lifestyle of a young adult.” And … More Marvelous

The contrast between where I am now and where I was yesterday is rather stark. All of the following events have taken place within the past twenty-four hours. None seem entirely modern. I As I wended my way up the steep, narrow cobblestone street to my hostel in Valparaíso, I saw an old man wending … More Traigo queso de vaca fresco

I am in Valparaíso and it is wonderful. Everywhere else I have been in Chile has been interesting, and Valdivia has the best fish market I have ever seen, but Valparaíso ROCKS, and it is beautiful. Evidence of its ultra-hip culture can be observed here. Later, I will translate this poem by Gonzalo Rojas, on Valparaíso. PUERTO … More Valparaíso, el viento

I 1. This page looks terrible in LINUX, or at least in the version I have and the browsers I have. 2. The exam I gave today was very hard to fail, if you studied, but very hard to pass, if you did not. All students who had failing averages before the exam, have now … More Technicalities

There is much I do not like about Pablo Neruda, but these lines fit this morning’s windswept sunniness. Gracias, violines, por este día de cuatro cuerdas. Puro es el sonido del cielo, la voz azul del aire. On this graceful, four-stringed day, skies sound pure as violins: the air’s blue voice. Axé.

Moksha is on a blogging hiatus, but my stats suggest she may still be reading. If she is, she will discover that this post is for her, since I know she will appreciate it. How do I know that? Well, she liked a term I coined, “Bible-drippers.” With her in mind I will dare to … More In Honor of HAH!