Friday, October 31, 2008

Umberto Saba, The Poet & the Conformist

How I envy you, Friend! Firmly
anchored to your faith, you live in peace
with men and gods. You talk and write
easily, true to the will
of your master. In exchange he gives you
bread and, as his thing, strokes you.
He doesn't point a weapon at you;
your smile fends off all threats. And you pass
among men and events almost unharmed.

There is one who thinks himself alone and defenseless.
He thinks his flesh has an excellent flavor.
Better, he thinks, in the hunter's sight
to be a sparrow than a partridge.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Sigur Ros, Ara bátur (English trans.)

Row Boat

You tried everything
Yes, a thousand times
Experienced enough
Been through enough
But you it was who let everything
Into my heart
And it was you who once again
Awoke my spirit

I parted, you parted

You stir up
Emotions
In a blender
Everything in disarray
But it was you who was always
There for me
It was you who never judged
My true friend

I parted, you parted
(hopelandic)

You sail on rivers
With an old oar
Leaking badly
You swim to shore
Pushed the waves away
But to no avail
You float on the sea
Sleep on the surface
Light through the fog

(hopelandic)

Monday, October 13, 2008

Upon seeing Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love for the third time

Among green willows and fragrant grass along the road of post stations
Youth discards you and slips away
In the tower the fifth watch bell shatters what's left of dreams
Beneath the blossoms, the sorrow of parting and March rain
More bitter to love than not--
One inch unravels to a thousand, ten thousand threads
Somewhere is an edge of heaven, an end of earth
But to longing, there is no end.

-- Hating Spring, Yen Shu