When the rainbow decided to change to a bird it folded itself into a little multicoloured ball, out came the beak and a sweet song with it. O what a delightful dainty bird, it made my decade!! Last spotting was more than a decade back on the outskirts of Shimla. Found this one in the Sal forests of Madhya Pradesh, where it arrives in the month of May to breed, the forest resonates with its calls. Post monsoon it is ready to migrate south.
Constantine Cavafy: the poet of future generation
Without consideration, without pity, without shame
they have built big and high walls around me.
And now I sit here despairing.
I think of nothing else: this fate gnaws at my mind;
for I had many things to do outside.
Ah, why didn’t I observe them when they were building the walls?
But I never heard the noise or the sound of the builders.
Imperceptible they shut me out of the world.
Constantine Cavafy (1863-1933) was a renowned Greek poet, most widely translated poet of modern Greece. His poetry is taught in universities in Greece, Cyprus and
many other part of the world. His poems were based on experience and deep understanding of history (as also personal “sensual memory”, homosexuality makes it a unique voice). Though his poems were in Greek but as WH Auden put it “had unique tone of voice that survives translation”. Auden writes “Nor can one speak of Cavafy´s imagery, for simile and metaphor are devices he never uses; whether he is speaking of a scene, an event, or an emotion, every line of his is plain factual description without any ornamentation whatsoever”.
Dangerous things
Said Myrtias (a Syrian student
Constantine Cavafy (1863-1933) was a renowned Greek poet, most widely translated poet of modern Greece. His poetry is taught in universities in Greece, Cyprus and
many other part of the world. His poems were based on experience and deep understanding of history (as also personal “sensual memory”, homosexuality makes it a unique voice). Though his poems were in Greek but as WH Auden put it “had unique tone of voice that survives translation”. Auden writes “Nor can one speak of Cavafy´s imagery, for simile and metaphor are devices he never uses; whether he is speaking of a scene, an event, or an emotion, every line of his is plain factual description without any ornamentation whatsoever”.Dangerous things
Said Myrtias (a Syrian student
in Alexandria; in the reign of
Augustus Constans and Augustus Constantius;
in part a pagan, and in part a christian);
"Fortified by theory and study,
I shall not fear my passions like a coward.
I shall give my body to sensual delights,
to enjoyments dreamt-of,
to the most daring amorous desires,
to the lustful impulses of my blood, without
any fear, for whenever I want --
and I shall have the will, fortified
as I shall be by theory and study --
at moments of crisis I shall find again
my spirit, as before, ascetic."
Supplication
The sea took a sailor to its depths.--
Supplication
The sea took a sailor to its depths.--
His mother, unsuspecting, goes and lights
a tall candle before the Virgin Mary
for his speedy return and for fine weather --
and always she turns her ear to the wind.
But while she prays and implores,
the icon listens, solemn and sad,
knowing that the son she expects will no longer return
Melancholy of Jason Kleander, Poet in Kommagini, AD 595
The aging of my body and my beauty
Melancholy of Jason Kleander, Poet in Kommagini, AD 595
The aging of my body and my beauty
is a wound from a merciless knife.
I’m not resigned to it at all.
I turn to you, Art of Poetry,
because you have a kind of knowledge about drugs:
attempts to numb the pain, in Imagination and Language.
It is wound from a merciless knife.
Bring your drugs, Art of Poetry—
they numb the wound at least for a little while.
From the school of the renowned philosopher
For two years he studied with Ammonios Sakkas,
but he was bored by both philosophy and Sakkas.
Then he went into politics.
But he gave that up. That Prefect was an idiot,
and those around him, somber-faced officious nitwits:
their Greek—poor fools—absolutely barbaric.
After that he became
vaguely curious about the Church: to be baptized
and pass as a Christian. But he soon
changed his mind: it would certainly have caused a row
with his parents, ostentatious pagans,
and—horrible thought—
they would have cut off at once
their extremely generous allowance.
But he had to do something. He began to haunt
the corrupt houses of Alexandria,
every secret den of debauchery.
In this fortune favored him:
he’d been given an extremely handsome figure.
And he enjoyed the divine gift.
His looks would last
at least another ten years. And after that?
Maybe he’ll go back to Sakkas.
Or if the old man has died meanwhile,
he’ll go to another philosopher or sophist:
there’s always someone suitable around.
Ithaca
When you set out for Ithaca
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.
Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.
Have Ithaca always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaca to give you wealth.
Ithaca gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithaca’s mean.
A scribble from my notes...
In Midst of Gods
There are 33million Gods to seek
There are 33million Gods to seek
take your pick, your ishta devta
multicoloured posters hang over the wall, opposite wall
and the other wall.
All Gods no doubt.
If not these there are other religions to choose from
“They are powerful” a devotee was ready to be guarantor.
Some fervent in their assurance “Surely you will be blessed. Join us”
Some came with collateral “See we went to so and so God, see how prosperous we have become!”
One fellow was rather insistent “Our’s is the only God”
“Follow him to paradise”, an ominous earnestness in his promise.
“It’s a powerful God. Will fulfill all your wishes” vouched another.
A walk in the park was all that i need.
