Draft of a Modern Love Poem
April 24, 2007 at 7:54 am blackmamba 8 comments
Tadeusz Różewicz
And yet white
is best described by gray
bird by stone
sunflowers
in December
love poems of old
were descriptions of the flesh
described this and that
for instance eyelashes
and yet red
should be described
by gray the sun by rain
poppies in November
lips by night
the most tangible
description of bread
is a description of hunger
in it is
the damp porous core
the warm interior
sunflowers at night
the breasts belly thighs of Cybele
a spring-clear
transparent description
of water
is a description of thirst
ashes
desert
it produces a mirage
clouds and trees move into
the mirror
Lack hunger
absence
of flesh
is a description of love
is a modern love poem
Translated by Magnus J. Krynski and Robert A. Maguire
Shall I not compare thee to a summer’s day?
Różewicz is considered by many to be the most influential poet in postwar Poland. His writings are stripped bare of rhetorical excesses and his purpose is simply to create “not verses but facts”. Incidentally these facts have turned into even more powerful metaphors. Milosz once said of him, “Różewicz is a poet of chaos with a nostalgia for order”.
[blackmamba]
Entry filed under: Black Mamba, English, Magnus J. Krynski, Polish, Robert A. Maguire, Tadeusz Różewicz.
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1. jupiter hijam | August 8, 2007 at 1:18 pm
its good that u guys kept so much abt rozewicz. but i need who is a poet by rozewicz. plsssssssssssss help me , i am desperate
2. blackmamba | August 8, 2007 at 6:34 pm
jupiter, here you go.
a poet is one who writes verses
and one who does not write verses
a poet is one who throws off fetters
and one who puts fetters on himself
a poet is one who believes
and one who cannot bring himself to believe
a poet is one who has told lies
and one who has been told lies
one who has been inclined to fall
and one who raises himself
a poet is one who tries to leave
and one who cannot leave
3. anurag | September 4, 2007 at 12:23 pm
cud u plz post the poem WHO IS A POET along with its deep meanings..thank you
4. anurag | September 4, 2007 at 12:24 pm
oh..u did post the poem but any ideas as to the metaphorical meanings in it?
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6. The Atlantic Daily: 7 Poems to Read This Spring – Profound News | April 10, 2021 at 10:49 pm
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7. davlohrey | April 11, 2021 at 9:23 am
Reblogged this on WRITINGS, MUSINGS, POETRY.
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