Detail from Audubon Plate 121 Snowy Owl by Mary Oliver Coming down out of the freezing sky with its depths of light, like an angel, or a Buddha with wings, it was beautiful, and accurate, striking the snow and whatever was there with a force that left the imprint of the tips of its wings — five feet apart — and the grabbing thrust of its feet, and the indentation of what had been running through the white valleys of the snow — and then it rose, gracefully, and flew back to the frozen marshes to lurk there, like a little lighthouse, in the blue shadows — so I thought: maybe death isn't darkness, after all, but so much light wrapping itself around us — as soft as feathers — that we are instantly weary of looking, and looking, and shut our eyes, not without amazement, and let ourselves be carried, as through the translucence of mica, to the river that is without the least dapple or shadow, that is nothing but light —
I am posting three translations of the poem which, to my ear, have different nuances, if not meanings. There is a difference between "undermines life ," " afflicts him night and day , " and "drags him down all his life." I wish I knew Greek. I included the Greek text. “Che Fece .... Il Gran Rifiuto”* by C. P. Cavafy For some among us there comes up a day when either the great Yea or the great Nay must needs be spoken. He who has the Yea ready within him, straightway stands revealed and, giving it utterance, passes to his field of self-expression. He who did not yield assent, never repents. If Nay or Yea were asked again, he would repeat his Nay, though that right word afflicts him night and day. Translated by John Cavafy (Poems by C. P. Cavafy. Translated, from the Greek, by J. C. Cavafy. Ikaros, 2003) __________________ For some people the day comes when they have to declare the great Yes or the great No. It’s clear at once who h
by Lucille Clifton With gratitude for the fall sesshin, October 10 th -17 th , Saint Dorothy's Rest, Camp Meeker. And thank you, Lucille Clifton, for the capping verse: The Lesson Of The Falling Leaves the leaves believe such letting go is love such love is faith such faith is grace such grace is god i agree with the leaves
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Shirin and Farhad
http://www.scribd.com/doc/239673087/Shirin-Farhad-erotic-poetry
This poetry tale of desperate love and self destruction reminds one of the Tristan stories centuries later in Europe
The holy
http://www.scribd.com/doc/238955585/The-holy-erotic-poetry
Sufi mystical poetry
The Veil
http://www.scribd.com/doc/238432392/The-Veil-erotic-poetry
Sufi mystical poetry
Kis
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237572416/Kis-erotic-poetry
Sufi mystical poetry
The Sufi's Garden Bk-2
http://www.scribd.com/doc/236107267/The-Sufis-Garden-Bk-2-erotic-poetry
Sufi mystical poetry
The face of God
http://www.scribd.com/doc/235038075/The-face-of-God-erotic-poetry
Sufi mystical poetry
Mystical-Verses
http://www.scribd.com/doc/234240149/Mystical-Verses-erotic-poetry
Sufi mystical poetry