Set out by Mahak Raithatha S
There’s a light beyond the woods Don’t you wanna set out to see? What makes in shine. There’s a girl in your dreams Hoping on the leaves Don’t you want to set out to see? Who she is. There’s a place painted in your dreams Don’t you wanna set out to see? How beautiful it […]
Rita And The Rifle by Mahmoud Darwish
Between Rita and my eyes There is a rifle And whoever knows Rita Kneels and plays To the divinity in those honey-colored eyes And I kissed Rita When she was young And I remember how she approached And how my arm covered the loveliest of braids And I remember Rita The way a sparrow remembers […]
Psalm Three by Mahmoud Darwish
On the day when my words were earth… I was a friend to stalks of wheat. On the day when my words were wrath I was a friend to chains. On the day when my words were stones I was a friend to streams. On the day when my words were a rebellion I was […]
Psalm 9 by Mahmoud Darwish
O rose beyond the reach of time and of the senses O kiss enveloped in the scarves of all the winds surprise me with one dream that my madness will recoil from you Recoiling from you In order to approach you I discovered time Approaching you in order to recoil form you I discovered my […]
Pride and Fury by Mahmoud Darwish
O Homeland! O Eagle, Plunging, through the bars of my cell, Your fiery beak in my eyes! All I possess in the presence of death Is pride and fury. I have willed that my heart be planted as a tree, That my forehead become an abode for skylarks. O eagle, I am unworthy of your […]
Postip by Manolo Arriola
Postip by Manolo Arriola Aquieta tus manos, te inquietaré con las mías, -Aquiétalas- Probaremos con los labios. Dejo dos manzanas en el cesto flores sobre la mesa colócalas en el vaso, son diminutas como nuestros detalles no te bebas el agua deja gotas para mis labios siente el terso de los pétalos mis manos se […]
Poema LX, El albergue by Mara Romero Torres
Poema LX, El albergue by Mara Romero Torres Esta noche derrama silencio en la quietud aparente de las cosas que siguen el curso vital. Vuelve el agua a su cauce y con ella la serenidad del hogar encontrado tras noches de sirenas en vela y cenizas derretidas. Los guijarros de la luna Encuentran reposo en […]
Poema II, “Pañuelos de La Alhambra” by Mara Romero Torres
Poema II, “Pañuelos de La Alhambra” by Mara Romero Torres Dime, corteza centenaria, si en otro tiempo se acercaron a ti mis pasos y si al reflejo de mis ojos o el sonido de mi voz tremularon tus tallos. Dime, con ese hablar secular que te hace infinita, si una vez me senté bajo tu […]
Pequeña niña mía by Mara Romero Torres
Pequeña niña mía by Mara Romero Torres A mi vida vine sola, a mi muerte sola voy. Y en medio quedas tú, pequeña niña mía, engarzada en mis poemas; latiendo en la tinta negra que llena la página blanca; amiga de la noche; enamorada de la mañana; vestida de hojas secas; […]
Passport by Mahmoud Darwish
They did not recognize me in the shadows That suck away my color in this Passport And to them my wound was an exhibit For a tourist Who loves to collect photographs They did not recognize me, Ah . . . Don’t leave The palm of my hand without the sun Because the trees recognize […]
Pañuelos de La Alhambra by Mara Romero Torres
Pañuelos de La Alhambra by Mara Romero Torres Qué brillantes son las luces de mi ciudad. ¿Te parecen hermosas? Desde este cerro se vuelven castillos de colores: azules, verdes, rojas, amarillas, blancas. Todas cobijando ilusiones como esta mía de pretenderte en mis ojos compartiendo mi mirada, repartiendo las luces debajo de estas estrellas. Míralas, ¿te […]
Ontological by Maggie Anderson
Ontological by Maggie Anderson This is going to cost you. If you really want to hear a country fiddle, you have to listen hard, high up in its twang and needle. You can’t be running off like this, all knotted up with yearning, following some train whistle, can’t hang onto anything that way. When you’re […]
Only Iraq by Mahmoud Darwish
I remember A’SSayyab*, shouting at the Gulf in vain: Iraq, Iraq, Only Iraq… And from echo comes the only answer. I remember A’SSayyab….at this Soumari space A female had triumphed over the sterility of haze And bequeathed us both the earth and the exile. I remember A’Ssayyab…that poetry is born in Iraq So be an […]
Oh My Father, I am Yusif by Mahmoud Darwish
Father! I am Yusif Oh father! My brothers neither love me nor want me in their midst. Oh father, they assault me, they stone me and with insults they shower me. My brothers wish me dead so they give their false eulogies. They shut your door before me, and from your field I was expelled. […]
October Journey by Margaret Walker
Traveller take heed for journeys undertaken in the dark of the year. Go in the bright blaze of Autumn’s equinox. Carry protection against ravages of a sun-robber, a vandal, a thief. Cross no bright expanse of water in the full of the moon. Choose no dangerous summer nights; no heavy tempting hours of spring; October […]
Nube by Manolo Arriola
Nube by Manolo Arriola Allá en el Momotombito Hay un ciudadano chiquito Llamado Manuelito Volador de nubes Una chiquilla risueña, cantarina Le echó un copo de harina Jugando, jugando fueron llegando -Un día- le pidió una estrella Alcánzala, dijo él Vas a volar en el cielo Tan alto, tan alto……….. ¿Y si me caigo?………….. Depende […]
No Matter What You Write by Mac McGovern
The paper upon which I write a testament to my failure; words scratched through, lines obliterated, soon join paper wadded, torn strewn around the floor. My pencil, nearly a stub readies a new sheet, a clean slate, radically blurs back and forth above the paper as if frustrated to be put to use. My eyes […]
Neighing at the Slope by Mahmoud Darwish
Horses’ neighing at the slope. Downward or upward. I prepare my portrait for my woman to hang on a wall when I die. She says: Is there a wall to hang it on? I say: We’ll build a room for it. Where? In any house. Horses’ neighing at the slope. Downward or upward. Does a […]
My Mother by Mahmoud Darwish
I long for my mother’s bread My mother’s coffee Her touch Childhood memories grow up in me Day after day I must be worth my life At the hour of my death Worth the tears of my mother. And if I come back one day Take me as a veil to your eyelashes Cover my […]
For My People by Margaret Walker
For my people everywhere singing their slave songs repeatedly: their dirges and their ditties and their blues and jubilees, praying their prayers nightly to an unknown god, bending their knees humbly to an unseen power; For my people lending their strength to the years, to the gone years and the now years and the maybe […]
Muhammad by Mahmoud Darwish
Muhammad Living on his father’s lap frightened by the sky’s inferno: Protect me father from flying above, my wing is too small for the wind… and the light is pitch-black Muhammad wants to return home without a bicycle or a new shirt. Wants to go to the school bench to the syntax and etymology notebook. […]
Lulu by Manolo Arriola
Lulu by Manolo Arriola ¿Qué prístino canario es ese? Posa los cristales de avellana Ave canora revolotea la mirada ¿Qué besos son esos? Guindados de frambuesas Dulces, hermosas………………………… Tiernos, amorosas ¿Qué besos serán? Te vi en el pajar Te escabulliste Fugabas entre mis yemas La mañana, el mar, el sol La brisa al rostro El […]
Khanaa’s Song by Mallika Sengupta
Listen o listen: Hark this tale of Khanaa In Bengal in the Middle Ages Lived a woman Khanaa, I sing her life The first Bengali woman poet Her tongue they severed with a knife Her speechless voice, ‘Khanar Bachan’ Still resonates in the hills and skies Only the poet by the name of Khanaa Bleeding […]
In Jerusalem by Mahmoud Darwish
In Jerusalem, and I mean within the ancient walls, I walk from one epoch to another without a memory to guide me. The prophets over there are sharing the history of the holy . . . ascending to heaven and returning less discouraged and melancholy, because love and peace are holy and are coming to […]
If Old Men Fought by Mac McGovern
If Old Men Fought by Mac McGovern An old man, looking out his door, gaze fixed on a distant shore, reminiscing to a time, not of happiness, or, the prospect of a bright future in store, to when he was sick to his very core, to when as a youth, he went to war A […]
Identity Card by Mahmoud Darwish
Write down ! I am an Arab And my identity card number is fifty thousand I have eight children And the ninth will come after a summer Will you be angry? Write down! I am an Arab Employed with fellow workers at a quarry I have eight children I get them bread Garments and books […]
I Didn’t Apologize to the Well by Mahmoud Darwish
I didn’t apologize to the well when I passed the well, I borrowed from the ancient pine tree a cloud and squeezed it like an orange, then waited for a gazelle white and legendary. And I ordered my heart to be patient: Be neutral as if you were not of me! Right here the kind […]
I Come From There by Mahmoud Darwish
I come from there and I have memories Born as mortals are, I have a mother And a house with many windows, I have brothers, friends, And a prison cell with a cold window. Mine is the wave, snatched by sea-gulls, I have my own view, And an extra blade of grass. Mine is the […]
I Belong There by Mahmoud Darwish
I belong there. I have many memories. I was born as everyone is born. I have a mother, a house with many windows, brothers, friends, and a prison cell with a chilly window! I have a wave snatched by seagulls, a panorama of my own. I have a saturated meadow. In the deep horizon of […]
I Am There by Mahmoud Darwish
I come from there and remember, I was born like everyone is born, I have a mother and a house with many windows, I have brothers, friends and a prison. I have a wave that sea-gulls snatched away. I have a view of my own and an extra blade of grass. I have a moon […]
I Want To Write by Margaret Walker
I Want to Write I want to write I want to write the songs of my people. I want to hear them singing melodies in the dark. I want to catch the last floating strains from their sob-torn throats. I want to frame their dreams into words; their souls into notes. I want to catch […]
Hora Cero by Manolo Arriola
Hora Cero by Manolo Arriola moreno punzante…….. cortina rota leones bailando mambo bacinica………. flores…………. más flores madera seca verde follaje hojas del árbol viejo Machado profundo manchado franquistas………. enquistas balas al pecho machistas marchitas………… marchistas marxistas gritó el caballo………………se apago el foco gallo afectado salvaje pedernal ballenero tomada de pelo…………… la llevé……………….era casada monte la […]
Heaven, an envious home by Mahak Raithatha S
He Is Calm, and I Am Too by Mahmoud Darwish
He is calm, And I am too. He drinks lemon tea, And I drink coffee. (this is the only thing different about us) He, like me, wears a loose striped shirt, And I stare, like him, in a monthly magazine. He does not see me as I eye him discreetly; I do not see him […]
Hate Survives by Mac McGovern
Hate Survives by Mac McGovern Prejudice learned now encapsulates willing souls only hate survives End of the poem 15 random poems Poetry by subject Some external links: The Bat’s Own Poetry Cave Talking Writing Monster. Duckduckgo.com – the alternative in the US Quant.com – a search engine from France, and also an alternative, at […]
Halloween by Mac Hammond
Halloween by Mac Hammond The butcher knife goes in, first, at the top And carves out the round stemmed lid, The hole of which allows the hand to go In to pull the gooey mess inside, out – The walls scooped clean with a spoon. A grim design decided on, that afternoon, The eyes are […]
Frijolita by Manolo Arriola
Frijolita by Manolo Arriola pícara frijolita tierna mirada encantadora gira………………..…..……. gira al son de los timbales p i e l cobriza entre mis brazos gira…………………….gira florida camisa hawaiana s o n r i e n t e p e r l a sombrero en tú ventana paloma morena silueta de sirena manjar del fondo del […]
FREEDOM by Mac McGovern
Fought on bitter fields tainted red Revolution quells garroted oppression Emporté-moi the cry Engagement protects treasured belief Declaration defines a people Oration warns tread not on me Muskets herald the voice of freedom End of the poem 15 random poems Poetry by subject Some external links: The Bat’s Own Poetry Cave Talking Writing Monster. […]
For Life and Death of a Poet by Marcin Malek
FLORECER by Manolo Arriola
FLORECER by Manolo Arriola Florezco en la primavera, Como el Cardo nuboso, De arisca persona, Que florece en el invierno. Florezco en enero, Como el amor caído, De las Rosas de otoño, Que florecen en el ocaso. Florezco cuando florezco, En el momento de florecer, No esperando siendo fruto, Ser flor en el atardecer. Florezco […]