by Katherine Philips 1632-1664 Hence Cupid! with your cheating toys, Your real griefs, and painted joys, Your pleasure which itself destroys. Lovers like men in fevers burn and rave, And only what will injure them do crave. Men’s weakness makes love so severe, They give him power by their fear, And make the shackles whichContinue reading “Against Love”
Author Archives: Robin
The Prisoner
by Emil Brontë Still let my tyrants know, I am not doom’d to wear Year after year in gloom and desolate despair; A messenger of Hope comes every night to me, And offers for short life, eternal liberty. He comes with Western winds, with evening’s wandering airs, With that clear dusk of heaven that bringsContinue reading “The Prisoner”
He came, he saw, he conquered -how far did Julius Caesar really get
We have had kings and queens in England (Britain, UK or whatever you want to call it) for almost 2,000 years and during that time they have been raised up from nothing; brought down even lower; died peacefully in their beds; died less peacefully on battlefields or in castle dungeons; and even had their headsContinue reading “He came, he saw, he conquered -how far did Julius Caesar really get”
The Chariot Race
by Sophocles 497-406 BC They took their stand where the appointed judges Had cast their lots and ranged the rival cars. Rang out the brazen trump! Away they bound, Cheer the hot steeds and shake the slackened reins; As with a body the large space is filled With the huge clangor of the rattling cars.Continue reading “The Chariot Race”
The desert has many teachings
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”
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”
Robin's Nest 