Excerpted from Beowulf (modern English translation) BY ANONYMOUS TRANSLATED BY FRANCES B. GRUMMERE LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, we have heard, and what honor the athelings won! Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes, from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore, awing the earls. Since erst…
POEM – April 29
On Fatalism BY THE IMAM SHAFAY MOHAMMED BEN IDRIS (767 – 840 CE) Not always wealth, not always force, A splendid destiny commands; The lordly vulture gnaws the corse That rots upon yon barren sands. Nor want nor weakness still conspires To bind us to a sordid state; The fly, that with a touch expires,…
POEM – April 28
The Land of Nod BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON From Breakfast on through all the day At home among my friends I stay, But every night I go abroad Afar into the land of Nod. All by myself I have to go, With none to tell me what to do– All alone beside the streams And…
POEM – April 27
Untitled Haikus BY BASHO MATSUO Sleep on horseback,The far moon in a continuing dream,Steam of roasting tea. What luck!The southern valleyMake snow fragrant.From all directions Winds bring petals of cherry Into the grebe lake. Even a wild boarWith all other thingsBlew in this storm.
POEM – April 26
When The World Was Young BY JOHNNY MERCER It isn’t by chance I happen to be a boulevardier, the toast of Paris, For over the noise, the talk and the smoke, I’m good for a laugh, a drink or a joke, I walk in a room, a party of all, come sit over here, somebody…