Section: «Poems»
Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings:
artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.);
a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").
The Continuous Life
What of the neighborhood homes awashIn a silver light, of children hunched in the bushes,Watching the grown-ups for signs of surrender,Signs that the..
© Mark Strand
The Coming Of Light
Even this late it happens:the coming of love, the coming of light.You wake and the candles are lit as if by themselves,stars gather, dreams pour into..
© Mark Strand
From The Long Sad Party
Someone was sayingsomething about shadows covering the field, abouthow things pass, how one sleeps towards morningand the morning goes.Someone was..
© Mark Strand
The Dreadful Has Already Happened
The relatives are leaning over, staring expectantly.They moisten their lips with their tongues. I can feelthem urging me on. I hold the baby in the..
© Mark Strand
Breath
When you see themtell them I am still here,that I stand on one leg while the other one dreams,that this is the only way,that the lies I tell them are..
© Mark Strand
Eating Poetry
Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.There is no happiness like mine.I have been eating poetry.The librarian does not believe what she sees.Her eyes..
© Mark Strand
A Piece Of The Storm
From the shadow of domes in the city of domes,A snowflake, a blizzard of one, weightless, entered your roomAnd made its way to the arm of the chair..
© Mark Strand
A Piece Of The Storm
From the shadow of domes in the city of domes,A snowflake, a blizzard of one, weightless, entered your roomAnd made its way to the arm of the chair..
© Mark Strand
Lines For Winter
Tell yourselfas it gets cold and gray falls from the airthat you will go onwalking, hearingthe same tune no matter whereyou find yourself—inside the..
© Mark Strand
The Everyday Enchantment Of Music
A rough sound was polished until it becamea smoother sound, which was polished untilit became music.Then the music was polished untilit became the..
© Mark Strand
The Garden
It shines in the garden,in the white foliage of the chestnut tree,in the brim of my father's hatas he walks on the gravel.In the garden suspended in..
© Mark Strand
The Remains
I empty myself of the names of others. I empty my pockets.I empty my shoes and leave them beside the road.At night I turn back the clocks;I open the..
© Mark Strand
Keeping Things Whole
In a fieldI am the absenceof field.This isalways the case.Wherever I amI am what is missing.When I walkI part the airand alwaysthe air moves into..
© Mark Strand
What Cannot Be Said
There's one who took my heart away.But does she own it? I can't say.See her as unjust though I may,Is she a tyrant? I can't say.She strides a..
© Mirza Ghalib
This Was Not Our Destiny
This was not our destiny, that union with the beloved would take place.If we had kept on living longer, then would have been kept waitingIf I lived..
© Mirza Ghalib
These Divine Verses
These divine verses,As I writeAreThe hallowed revelationsDescendingFrom on highThe sound of the scribe's penIn the stillness of the night is..
© Mirza Ghalib
The World Is A Playground
I perceive the world as a playgroundWhere dawn and dusk appear in eternal roundsIn His Universal form is a plaything the throne of SolomonThe..
© Mirza Ghalib
The Dropp Dies In The River
The dropp dies in the riverof its joyPain goes so far it cures itselfIn the spring after the heavy rain the cloud disappearsThat was nothing but..
© Mirza Ghalib
Pain Did Not Become Grateful To Medicine
Pain did not become grateful to medicineI didn't get well; [but it] wasn't bad eitherWhy are you gathering the Rivals?[It was just] a mere spectacle..
© Mirza Ghalib
No Hope Comes My Way
No hope comes my wayNo visage shows itself to meThat death will come one day is definiteThen why does sleep evade me all night?I used to laugh at the..
© Mirza Ghalib
No Hope
I am left with no hope at all,No possibility to reach my goal,The Day of my death is fixed,I am so very anxious that I can not sleep all night.Though..
© Mirza Ghalib
Let The Ascetics Sing Of The Garden Of Paradise --
Let the ascetics sing of the garden of Paradise --We who dwell in the true ecstasy can forget their vase-tamed bouquet.In our hall of mirrors, the..
© Mirza Ghalib
Kiss Me
Ghooncha-e-nashiguftha ko dhoor se math dikha key yoonBosey ko poonchtha houn mein munh se muchey batha ki yoonTranslation:Don't stay afar pouting..
© Mirza Ghalib
It Is Not Love It Is Madness
(You say) It is not love, it is madnessMy madness may be the cause of your fameSever not my relationship with youIf nothing then be my enemyWhat is..
© Mirza Ghalib
Innocent Heart
Innocent heart, what has happened to you?Alas, what is the cure to this pain?We are interested, and they are displeased,Oh Lord, what is this..
© Mirza Ghalib