LGC

You know what? I think your someone is more interested in you than in reading, because, seriously Coelho? You certainly made an impression with Flaubert!

I found it like a poem for someone preparing for war...maybe the war of life? When was it written? The 2nd World War came to my mind, am I wrong?

I love, love, love this verse:

and let your helpless Anger be like the sea
whenever you hear the voice of the insulted and beaten

poehler-bear

I'll read the poem soon

I've never read anything by Coelho. I guess I should try one day. I like the songs he wrote though.

I'm almost done with A Dance with Dragons

Aga_darkside

It was written in 1974 so it had more to do with life under communist regime (his poems were really popular among people involved in the opposition movement), but the war experience is also present here, those who survived should honour the memory of those who died during the war or were persecuted afterwards. And to not get broken by the regime as in this linego upright among those who are on their knees (which is a really really famous line)

and here is a really nice 3-page article about Herbert and his work

another poem that I like from him (sadly all I know about him comes from high school... )

"Why the Classics"

1

in the fourth book of the Peloponnesian War

Thucydides tells among other things

the story of his unsuccessful expedition

among long speeches of chiefs

battles sieges plague

dense net of intrigues of diplomatic endeavors

the episode is like a pin

in a forest

the Greek colony Amphipolis

fell into the hands of Brasidos

because Thucydides was late with relief

for this he paid his native city

with lifelong exile

exiles of all times

know what price that is

2

generals of the most recent wars

if a similar affair happens to them

whine on their knees before posterity

praise their heroism and innocence

they accuse their subordinates

envious colleagues

unfavorable winds

Thucydides says only

that he had seven ships

it was winter

and he sailed quickly

3

if art for its subject

will have a broken jar

a small broken soul

with a great self-pity

what will remain after us

will be like lovers' weeping

in a small dirty hotel

when wallpaper dawns

Miss Femina

"Num momento, num olhar, o coração apanha-se para sempre. Ama-se alguém. Por muito longe, por muito difícil, por muito desesperadamente. O coração guarda o que se nos escapa das mãos. E durante o dia e durante a vida, quando não está lá quem se ama, não é ela que nos acompanha – é o nosso amor, o amor que se lhe tem." Miguel Esteves Cardoso

Again a Portuguese text, but a lot would be lost in translation!

Gelfling

it's not sad. At least you discovered something interesting in high school count yourself lucky!

You made me work for that one! but it was worth it

Miss Femina

One of these days, we'll listen to you speaking perfect Portuguese!

New poem I just found

I Was Meant for You (Anonymous)

The sun, it did shine
the day you came into my life
and everything that was wrong
became all right
everything that was upside down
turned around

And I smiled because finally
my heart had found its home
and I didn’t need anyone to tell me
that you are where I belong
I knew, I just knew
that it was you

And the morning sun it would rise
and dance through the happiness
that shone in my eyes
And all my dreams they did come true
every second that was spent with you
And every wish I had ever made
came to life that one fateful day

And I smiled because finally
my life and everything made perfect sense
and I didn’t need someone to tell me
that this was love or what it meant
I knew, I just knew
I was meant for you

Gelfling

well I'd love that. My accent needs even more work than my ear right now but i'm willing to learn.

I like that.

Aga_darkside

True, but I'd like to know more

Gelfling

It's a good thing when school gives you the inspiration to go looking for more.

Anyone likes Ginsberg? Here he is reading his famous Howl





The full text is here
Allen Ginsberg - Howl

It's pretty long so I'm not going to post it here.

If you're unfamiliar with Ginsberg and the Beat Generation, I recommend the movie Howl which is not exactly biographical but depicts some of the events in Ginsberg life that served as an inspiration for the poem, as well as the trial following its publication in 1956 on charges of Obscenity and the role it played in diminishing the power of censorship of arts in the Post-McCarthy US. Pieces (about 90%) of Howl, are interwoven throughout the narrative over beautiful animated sequences.

Miss Femina

A few quotes from The Book of Disquiet, by Fernando Pessoa

My soul is a hidden orchestra; I know not what instruments, what fiddlestrings and harps, drums and tamboura I sound and clash inside myself. All I hear is the symphony.

When one of my Japanese teacups is broken, I imagine that the real cause was not the careless hand of a maid but the anxieties of the figures inhabiting the curves of that porcelain. Their grim decision to commit suicide doesn't shock me: they used the maid as one of us might use a gun.

Gelfling

I'd love to read that in the original text! Well I have to improve my Portuguese first!

Here's a little one from Jacques Prevert that has been on my mind lately

Paris At Night

Trois allumettes une à une allumées dans la nuit
La premiére pour voir ton visage tout entier
La seconde pour voir tes yeux
La dernière pour voir ta bouche
Et l'obscuritè tout entière pour me rappeler tout cela
En te serrant dans mes bras.


Three matches one by one struck in the night
The first to see the whole of your face
The second to see your eyes
The last to see your mouth
And the darkness all around to remind me of all these
As I hold you in my arms.

Aga_darkside

I like it

I am finishing A Dance with Dragons, it took me almost a year to finish it

Gelfling

not enough time or were you trying to make it last until the next one?

Just thought I'd post that one from A Chorus Line here in memory of Marvin Hamlisch. He was too young to go but he left music that will live on.

Aga_darkside

I've read previous books in Polish and I had trouble getting used to English, I was constantly confused So I basically stopped after 100 pages or so and now I tried again, I should have been more patient

Gelfling

oh yeah you mentioned it! Different names for everyhting and everyone