He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven ~William Butler Yeats Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; […]
The Scattering ~ Penelope Shuttle I cast you into the waters. Be lake, or random moon. Be first light, lifting up its beggar’s cup. I scatter your ashes. Be the gale teaching autumn to mend its ways, or leopard so proud of his spotted coat. Be the mentor of cherry trees. I cast your dust […]
Dejeuner Sur l’Herbe ~ Tu Fu, China, 8th Century Translated from Chinese by Carolyn Kizer (I somehow doubt this was the original title of the piece, but the reference to Manet’s painting is an interesting choice.) It’s pleasant to board the ferry in the sunscape As the late light slants into the afternoon; The faint […]
In search of metal candleholder inserts, I found myself at Afikomen Judaica in Claremont yesterday. Sure, I could buy them cheap from Amazon, but I’d rather not give Jeff Bezos the money. And I would have missed out on an amazing experience. How can you not love a place that has the slogan “Live. Shop. Shmooze.”? Miriam […]
Reply to a Marriage Proposal ~ Irihapeti Rangi te Apakura Translated from Maori by Roger Oppenheim and Allen Curnow Don’t hand me over with a word, Toihau, don’t give me to Te Keepa! Isn’t it enough that people are talking as far as the quicksands of Karewa? I am a canoe cast up and broken […]
