Mechthild of Magdeburg translated by: Jane Hirshfield In the desert, Turn towards emptiness, Fleeing the self. Stand alone, Ask no-one’s help, And your being will quiet Free from the bondage of things. Those who cling to the world, Endeavour to free them; Those who are free, praise. Care for the sick, But live alone, HappyContinue reading “The desert has many teachings”
Author Archives: Robin
City Trees
by Edna Millay The trees along this city street, Save for the traffic and the trains, Would make a sound as thin and sweet As trees in country lanes. And people standing in their shade Out of a shower, undoubtedly Would hear such music as is made Upon a country tree. Oh, little leaves thatContinue reading “City Trees”
Revolutionary rebels or rebellious revolutionaries – not so civil war
Revolution: a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favour of a new system. Rebellion: an act of armed resistance to an established government or leader. How is it that despite the demise of various ruling monarchs; peasants’ revolts; rebellion by bastard royalty; and a few civil wars here and there Britain isContinue reading “Revolutionary rebels or rebellious revolutionaries – not so civil war”
Song of Furies
by Aeschylus Up and lead the dance of Fate! Lift the song that mortals hate! Tell what rights are ours on earth, Over all of human birth. Swift of foot to avenge are we! He whose hands are clean and pure, Naught our wrath to dread hath he; Calm his cloudless days endure. But theContinue reading “Song of Furies”
Love and the Gentle Heart
by Dante Alighieri 1265-1331 Love and the gentle heart are one thing, just as the poet says in his verse, each and the other one as well divorced as reason from the mind’s reasoning. Nature creates love, and then creates love king, and makes the heart a palace where he’ll stay, perhaps a shorter orContinue reading “Love and the Gentle Heart”
Llanbadarn
by Dafydd ap Gwilym translated by Dannie Abse I don’t give a monkey-nut for their prissy talk. Sunday – forgive me Lord – is an amiable time to chase the chaste. After church of course. But no unburdened smile or sweet kiss ever from one starched lady of Llanbadarn And me, so randy, I canContinue reading “Llanbadarn”
I Look Up to the Sky
by Samuel ibn Naghrillah 993-1056 I look up to the sky and the stars, And down to the earth and the things that creep there. And I consider in my heart how their creation Was planned with wisdom in every detail. See the heavens above like a tent, Constructed with loops and with hooks, AndContinue reading “I Look Up to the Sky”
How the Chiefs demanded from Shirwi the Death of Khusrau Parwiz
by Ferdowsi 935 to 1020 From the Shahnameh Shirwi, a timid, inexperienced youth, Found that the throne beneath him was a snare, While readers of mankind saw that ’twas time For men of might, those that had done the ill, And had produced that coil, went from the hall Of audience to the presence ofContinue reading “How the Chiefs demanded from Shirwi the Death of Khusrau Parwiz”
Back to business but missing the camaraderie of union action
As I mentioned recently it was good to get back to work but I still missed the buzz that goes with proper union activity. I don’t mean going on strike. That is the ultimate weapon the worker has and, like a nuclear bomb, you know that if you utilise it then the ultimate effect couldContinue reading “Back to business but missing the camaraderie of union action”
My Heart
by Abu Muhammad ibn Hazm I would split open my heart with a knife, place you within and seal my wound, that you might dwell there and never inhabit another until the resurrection and judgment day — thus you would stay in my heart while I lived, and at my death you too would dieContinue reading “My Heart”
Robin's Nest 