Soul – Robin’s Nest

Amidst the Noisy Ball . . .

by Aleksander Pushkin 1799-1837 Amidst the noisy ball, in Hell Of everyday distress, I’ve seen you, but the secret’s veil Was covering your face. Your fair eyes were sad and bright, And voice was so sweet, As sound of a pipe apart Or murmur of the sea. I’ve liked your fine and slender waist, AndContinue reading “Amidst the Noisy Ball . . .”

To Celia

by Ben Jonson 1572-1637 Drink to me, only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss within the cup, And I’ll not look for wine. The thirst that from the soul doth rise, Doth ask a drink divine: But might I if Jove’s nectar sup, I would not change forContinue reading “To Celia”

Time Runs Backward After Death

by Robert Bly b. 1926 Minnesota Samson, grinding bread for widows and orphans, Forgets he is wronged, and the answers The Philistines wrangled out of him go back Into the lion. The bitter and the sweet marry. He himself wronged the lion. Now the wheat Caresses the wind with its wifely tail; the donkey RunsContinue reading “Time Runs Backward After Death”

Song of Furies

Aeschylus c525BC-c456BC 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”

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”

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam XLI-LX

by Omar Khayyam translated by Edward Fitzgerald XLI Oh, plagued no more with Human or Divine, To-morrow’s tangle to itself resign, And lose your fingers in the tresses of The Cypress-slender Minister of Wine. XLII Waste not your Hour nor in the vain pursuit Of This and That endeavour and dispute; Better be merry withContinue reading “Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam XLI-LX”