The Commencement of a New Century by Friedrich Schiller
Dear friend! Alas, to where has peace now flown? When will true Freedom find a resting place? The century has vanished with the storm, A...
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Translation
- Jan 8
- 6 min
Le Dolci Rime d’Amor ch’i Solia
The sweeter songs I sang in earlier days Must now be left behind, Along with all my gentler strains of mind, Although they may return,...
Translation
- Nov 29, 2022
- 2 min
Beautiful New Rose by Guido Cavalcanti
Beautiful new rose, Precious renewer, By field and river I’ll happily sing Your every blessing—to the blooming verdure. Your sacred...
Translation
- Nov 4, 2022
- 4 min
The Legend of the Pariah
The Pariah’s Prayer Great lord Brahma, lord of spirits, From whom all life traces its seed; Standing at creation’s summits, Was your will...
Translation
- Oct 3, 2022
- 2 min
The Feast of Belshazzar by Heinrich Heine
The midnight hour had fallen on The hushed city of Babylon. And yet within its castle walls The vassals thronged throughout the halls....
Translation
- Sep 22, 2022
- 2 min
Legend of the Horseshoe by Wolfgang Goethe
When Jesus Christ still walked over the Earth, Outcast, and not yet known by holy birth, Though followed by many an eager youth Who...
Translation
- Sep 12, 2022
- 1 min
Come As You Are by Rabindranath Tagore
Come as you are, forget appearances! Is your hair untamable, your part uneven, your bodice unfastened? Never mind. Come as you are,...
Translation
- Aug 28, 2022
- 2 min
Von ewiger Liebe (Eternal Love) Set by Brahms
So dark, so dark the willow forests loom; The skies are wintered and the evening hushed. Now neither shroud nor light nor vapors rise,...
Translation
- Aug 14, 2022
- 1 min
Night Snow by Po Chü-i
I wondered why the blankets were so lacking, And then I saw my window brightly glow. With night long gone, I knew we had deep snow, For...
Translation
- Jul 17, 2022
- 1 min
Lines from Laolao Pavillion & Other Poetry
Lines from Laolao Ting Pavilion by Li Bai (701-762) loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The spring breeze knows partings...
Translation
- Jul 5, 2022
- 2 min
Al Poco Giorno e al gran cerchio d'ombra by Dante Alighieri
To the short day and the great arc of shadow I've come, alas, walking over the pale hills Where all the colors have vanished from the...
Translation
- Jun 18, 2022
- 2 min
Longing by Friedrich Schiller
If I could escape this valley Where the gloomy vapors creep, By some wonder finally flee, My soul would blessedly weep! Gazing upon this...
Translation
- Jun 1, 2022
- 1 min
Singer's Farewell
The Muse is mute, with blushing virgin cheeks She bows her head, and modestly draws near. She takes a step to hear you speak a word; She...
Translation
- May 19, 2022
- 1 min
The King of Thule by Johann Wolfgang Goethe
A king once lived in Thule, Faithful until the grave, To whom his dying mistress A golden goblet gave. Nothing was dearer to him— He...
Translation
- May 12, 2022
- 2 min
Sappho Fragments 2, 55, and 58
Sappho, fragment 2 (Lobel-Page 2 / Voigt 2 / Diehl 5, 6 / Bergk 4, 5) Come, Cypris, from Cretea to meet me at this holy temple where a...
Translation
- Apr 1, 2022
- 1 min
Art by Théophile Gauthier
Yes, art comes far more thrilling from forms that are averse to drilling, enamel, onyx, verse. To Hell with false constrictions! But to...
Translation
- Mar 20, 2022
- 1 min
Wang Wei's "Deer Park" & Other Poems
"Lu Zhai" ("Deer Park") by Wang Wei (699-759) loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Uninhabited hills ... except that now...
Translation
- Mar 15, 2022
- 1 min
Gitanjali 11 & 35
Gitanjali 11 by Rabindranath Tagore loose translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. Burch Leave this vain chanting and...
Translation
- Mar 14, 2022
- 1 min
Thekla's Song by Friedrich Schiller
This song was composed by Schiller in response to inquiries about the fate of his character Thekla in his tragedy, Wallenstein’s Death....
Translation
- Mar 3, 2022
- 2 min
The Pilgrim by Friedrich Schiller
It was in the midst of life’s Spring: when I took to the road, Leaving behind youth’s dances And my family’s abode. In good faith, I cast...
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