Minou

This is another song from the Russian lullaby animation project. The child dreams his whole life, and when he is on the point of death, he awakes. I am taking German. In the Roman alphabet, with the English translation, I can understand this whole Yiddish song. Axé.

Caballito negro

Ay, ay, caballito negro, ¿dónde llevas tu jinete muerto? Ay, ay, caballito frío, ¡qué perfume de flor de cuchillo! Ay, little black horse, where are you taking your dead rider? Ay, cold little horse, ay the smell of knife-blossom! Axé.

Poem

I am not willing to consider the cat dead, but I am interested in this poet. On the Death of a Cat In life, death was nothing to you: I am willing to wager my soul that it simply never occurred to your nightmareless mind, while sleep was everything (see it raised to an infinite … More Poem

Vignette

Z may be pale, but she is nonetheless Mexican. She has been working in departments of Spanish and Portuguese since 1978, and studying in them since 1974. Z:  This student not only wants to be exempt from coursework, she is also disruptive and invasive. She interrupts everyone, not just me. In class she will not … More Vignette

Nanni, Nanni

I am so sad about the disappearance of my cat, who was beautiful and seemed genuinely Egyptian somehow. Here is a Greek lullaby with amusing animation, apparently about Odysseus. I am convinced lullabies are so mysterious and haunting not just because they are about dreams and sleep. I believe many are sung for children who … More Nanni, Nanni

Intellectual

Really this student deserves an A, at least by the standards we keep here.  I have to give him an A- because there are imperfections in his paper and he wants these recognized.  This is good and interesting work, he says, but not his best. If I give him a straight A he will not … More Intellectual

El sur

I keep seeing professors advise each other on the wise use of time. One must not spend too much time on anything, because one must progress, I know. But I protest. I am not recommending that people assign too much time to anything in particular. I have just always found that realistic estimates, for time … More El sur