The Lightning ~ Judah Al-Harizi Translated from the Hebrew by T. Carmi And the lightning laughs at the clouds, like a warrior who runs without growing weary or faint. Or like a night watchman who dozes off, then opens one eye for an instant, and shuts it.
Invocation of the Creator ~ Yoruba Tribe Translated by Ulli Beier He is patient, he is not angry. He sits in silence to pass judgment. He sees you even when he is not looking. He stays in a far place—but his eyes are on the town. He stands by his children and lets them succeed. […]
Prayer ~ Nina Cassian Translated from the Romanian by Brenda Walker and Andrea Deletant If you really exist—show up as a bear, a goat, a pilot, come with eyes, mouth, voice, —demand something from me, force me to sacrifice myself, take me in your arms, protect me from above, feed me with the seventh part […]
Seen Fleetingly, From a Train ~ Bronislaw Maj Translated from Polish by Czeslaw Milosz and Robert Hass A foggy evening, strands of smoke Hanging immobile over fields, The humid blackness of earth, the sun Almost set—against its fading shield, Far away, two dots: women in dark wraps Coming back from church perhaps, perhaps One tells something to […]
A Journey ~ Edward Field When he got up that morning everything was different: He enjoyed the bright spring day But he did not realize it exactly, he just enjoyed it. And walking down the street to the railroad station Past magnolia trees with dying flowers like old socks It was a long time since […]
