Neval 12 Report post Posted February 1, 2016 Footsteps by Constantine P. Cavafy On an ebony bed decorated with coral eagles, sound asleep lies Nero -- unconscious, quiet, and blissful; thriving in the vigor of flesh, and in the splendid power of youth. But in the alabaster hall that encloses the ancient shrine of the Aenobarbi how restive are his Lares. The little household gods tremble, and try to hide their insignificant bodies. For they heard a horrible clamor, a deathly clamor ascending the stairs, iron footsteps rattling the stairs. And now in a faint the miserable Lares, burrow in the depth of the shrine, one tumbles and stumbles upon the other, one little god falls over the other for they understand what sort of clamor this is, they are already feeling the footsteps of the Furies. 1 Marbles reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neval 12 Report post Posted February 1, 2016 Exiles by Constantine P. Cavafy It goes on being Alexandria still. Just walk a bit along the straight road that ends at the Hippodrome and you'll see palaces and monuments that will amaze you. Whatever war-damage it's suffered, however much smaller it's become, it's still a wonderful city. And then, what with excursions and books and various kinds of study, time does go by. In the evenings we meet on the sea front, the five of us (all, naturally, under fictitious names) and some of the few other Greeks still left in the city. Sometimes we discuss church affairs(the people here seem to lean toward Rome)and sometimes literature.The other day we read some lines by Nonnos:what imagery, what rhythm, what diction and harmony!All enthusiasm, how we admired the Panopolitan.So the days go by, and our stay hereisn't unpleasant because, naturally,it's not going to last forever.We've had good news: if something doesn't comeof what's now afoot in Smyra, then in April our friends are sure to move from Epiros, so one way or another, our plans are definitely working out, and we'll easily overthrow Basil. And when we do, at last our turn will come. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neval 12 Report post Posted February 7, 2016 Rose When the rose is gone and the garden faded you will no longer hear the nightingale's song. The Beloved is all; the lover just a veil. The Beloved is living; the lover a dead thing. If love withholds its strengthening care, the lover is left like a bird without care, the lover is left like a bird without wings. How will I be awake and aware if the light of the Beloved is absent? Love wills that this Word be brought forth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neval 12 Report post Posted February 7, 2016 The beauty of the heartThe beauty of the heartis the lasting beauty:its lips give to drinkof the water of life.Truly it is the water,that which pours,and the one who drinks.All three become one when your talisman is shattered.That oneness you can't knowby reasoning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marbles 15,655 Report post Posted February 7, 2016 ^ English poems only, please. It is pointless to post poems in a language no one understands on SC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibn Al-Shahid 1,188 Report post Posted February 7, 2016 Antigonish - Hughes Mearns Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today, I wish, I wish he'd go away... When I came home last night at three, The man was waiting there for me But when I looked around the hall, I couldn't see him there at all! Go away, go away, don't you come back any more! Go away, go away, and please don't slam the door... Last night I saw upon the stair, A little man who wasn't there, He wasn't there again today Oh, how I wish he'd go away... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Takalluf 197 Report post Posted February 8, 2016 14 hours ago, Marbles said: ^ English poems only, please. It is pointless to post poems in a language no one understands on SC. Can we make an Urdu poetry thread? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marbles 15,655 Report post Posted February 8, 2016 35 minutes ago, Takalluf said: Can we make an Urdu poetry thread? Post away! Let's revive it. Eleven years of selected Urdu poems and ash'aars there. But it has died down since the last 3/4 of years. Angrezi-speaking maghribi kids have taken over SC entirely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Takalluf 197 Report post Posted February 8, 2016 1 hour ago, Marbles said: Post away! Let's revive it. Eleven years of selected Urdu poems and ash'aars there. But it has died down since the last 3/4 of years. Angrezi-speaking maghribi kids have taken over SC entirely. Bismillah kijiye Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zainabamy 3,018 Report post Posted February 10, 2016 Possibly one of the most underrated poets in English history - Thomas Wyatt. These words hit me like a tonne of bricks. An extract from 'Circa Regna Tonat' – About the Throne the Thunder Rolls These bloody days have broken my heart.My lust, my youth did them depart,And blind desire of estate.Who hastes to climb seeks to revert.Of truth, circa Regna tonat. 2 Bakir and Marbles reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftCoastMom 4,276 Report post Posted February 14, 2016 This was today for me, penned by e.e. cummings 4 zainabamy, reisiger, Marbles and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heavenly_Silk 2,463 Report post Posted February 19, 2016 (edited) Oh my Lord, the stars glitter and the eyes of men are closed. Kings have locked their doors, and each lover is alone with his love. Here, I am alone with you. ~ Rabia-al-Basri Edited February 19, 2016 by Heavenly_Silk 3 Hameedeh, Marbles and reisiger reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Takalluf 197 Report post Posted February 25, 2016 I have realized that women always drown in their love and the men just swim. Mandeq Ahmed, ‘ocean of tears’ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
von Lohengramm 957 Report post Posted April 4, 2016 Whether of high or low degree, we mortals think our various vanities are running well until some blow falls; then we moan. - Lines from Solon fr. 13. 1 Hameedeh reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marbles 15,655 Report post Posted May 8, 2016 We are but chessmen, destined it is plain, That great chess player, Heaven, to entertain; It moves us on life’s chess-board to and fro, And then in death’s box shuts us up again. —Omar Khayyam 2 reisiger and Gaius I. Caesar reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaius I. Caesar 5,816 Report post Posted May 8, 2016 There is no frigate like a bookTo take us lands away,Nor any coursers like a pageOf prancing poetry.This traverse may the poorest takeWithout oppress of toll;How frugal is the chariotThat bears a human soul! ~ Emily Dickinson 4 notme, Hameedeh, reisiger and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hameedeh 15,794 Report post Posted December 13, 2016 Whenever I need a smile, I read this poem by Samantha Reynolds. JANUARY 4, 2011 A red jacket A four-year-old boy once asked me if a ladybug was a very, very small turtle in a red jacket. I told him there are things we can never know, like why small turtles choose such flashy clothes. http://bentlily.com/2011/01/04/a-red-jacket/ 1 Heavenly_Silk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolverine 1,086 Report post Posted December 16, 2016 5 Heavenly_Silk, Gaius I. Caesar, ShiaChat Mod and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Islamic Salvation 3,100 Report post Posted January 2, 2017 "The Fear of God" If you should rise from Nowhere up to Somewhere,From being No one up to being Someone,Be sure to keep repeating to yourselfYou owe it to an arbitrary GodWhose mercy to you rather than to othersWon’t bear too critical examination.Stay unassuming. If for lack of licenseTo wear the uniform of who you are,You should be tempted to make up for itIn a subordinating look or tone,Beware of coming too much to the surfaceAnd using for apparel what was meantTo be the curtain of the inmost soul. - Robert Frost 2 Hameedeh and Heavenly_Silk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heavenly_Silk 2,463 Report post Posted January 2, 2017 The Tiger by William Blake Tiger Tiger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire? And what shoulder, and what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? and what dread feet? What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp! When the stars threw down their spears And water’d heaven with their tears: Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee? Tiger Tiger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? 4 ErikCartman, reisiger, Gaius I. Caesar and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tiger Tiger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire? And what shoulder, and what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? and what dread feet? What the hammer? what the chain, In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp, Dare its deadly terrors clasp! When the stars threw down their spears And water’d heaven with their tears: Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee? Tiger Tiger burning bright, In the forests of the night: What immortal hand or eye, Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Islamic Salvation 3,100 Report post Posted January 5, 2017 “Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - I’ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me. -E. Dickinson 3 reisiger, Hameedeh and Marbles reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aftahb 553 Report post Posted January 6, 2017 Waiting Eyes fluttered through the long night, salty and wet. You came and left, as did every breath. I was happy O dream of my desire, You will come encrusted, in sapphire. Reticent eyes shying to ground, you will come, smiles abound. Yet in my restless heart rise, tides of gloom. The lonesome shehnai (a musical instrument like Clarinet) cries, through my house of blues. The leaves rustle and I think you have arrived. My devout prostrations I think, reached my beloved. Vigilant through the night, the stars now need sleep. There was a hope of your arrival that now sinks deep. The dawn awake from its slumber shone. O breeze you came, but you came alone. My darling the enemy of my sleep, object of my worship, master of my soul. Please come, so my worship and desires may meet. Please come, so death may come, at your feet. (Makhdoom Moinuddin) English Translation by L K Atheeq Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Islamic Salvation 3,100 Report post Posted January 6, 2017 Acquainted with the Night (R. Frost) I have been one acquainted with the night. I have walked out in rain—and back in rain. I have outwalked the furthest city light. I have looked down the saddest city lane. I have passed by the watchman on his beat And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain. I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet When far away an interrupted cry Came over houses from another street, But not to call me back or say good-bye; And further still at an unearthly height, One luminary clock against the sky Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right. I have been one acquainted with the night. Hamza Yusuf making Tadabbur of it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guest050817 4,794 Report post Posted January 9, 2017 IF Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heavenly_Silk 2,463 Report post Posted February 3, 2017 All that is gold does not glitter All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost, The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king. J.R.R. Tolkien 3 Gaius I. Caesar, guest050817 and Hameedeh reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites