The Art of Translation No. 5
“Smart people say such dumb and disappointing things about translation.”
Peter Cole
Interview
Poetry
from “A Winter’s Trail”
Drawing draws us in-
volving us further and stretching
attention it sketches reaching
Writing on the Wall
We hurl ourselves over
then over again
into the wall
On Givenness
What if givenness isn’t enough—
and the wind’s slithering along my arm
is really a subtle summery alarm
The Unsure Moralist
I’m tired of life and its troubles.
Whoever lives as long as I have or will
grows weary: it’s inevitable.
From “The Invention of Influence”
Precisely this
afflicts the plagiarist,
or something like
Daily
On the Slaughter
We’re out until January 5, but we’re re-posting some of our favorite pieces from 2014 while we’re away. We hope you enjoy—and have a happy New Year!
*
A political poem’s ironic new life.ON THE SLAUGHTER
Heaven—have mercy.
If you hold a God
(to whom …
On the Slaughter
A political poem’s ironic new life.ON THE SLAUGHTER
Heaven—have mercy.
If you hold a God
(to whom there’s a path
that I haven’t found), pray for me.
My heart has died.
There is no prayer on my lips.
My hope and strength are gone.
How long? How much longe…