by Jerzy Liebert.
How does the word so rush to the sound
When another name calling is heard?
How does the flame flash over the ground
That it’s so bright in both heart and word?
Translated by Charles S. Kraszewski
charles s. kraszewski
Spring.
by Jerzy Liebert. Each bird insanely trills. Stags rest their antlers on the breasts of birch. The blue sky aches for the green earth With flaring, trembling, moist nostrils. Leaves and sap burst from the trees. Drunkenly reel both clouds and beasts. Wonders in sunlit clearings — lily mists. In copses healthy bark snaps wide […]
The Greatness that was Greece.
by Charles S. Kraszewski. It wasn’t Lucius Mummius who put an end to Greece. The self-inflicted wound was dealt ages before. We call it xenophobia, using the Greek word for it. Since they despised all other languages (and peoples) we Other People had to learn Greek. Otherwise, how could we compete with Persia in the […]
Colas Breugnon.
by Jerzy Liebert. (translated by Charles S. Kraszewski.) The angels drive from Eden bold Men, birds, and deer trembling with dread. No more ambrosia, sweet and gold. They’ve given us cow milk, and black bread. God thought that quartering black bread, We’d wring our hands in anger rank But — bread tastes better than […]
for the road take.
Foul weather (a parable).
by Artur Grabowski. (Translated by Charles S. Kraszewski) He left the house and sat down on the seashore. Over there, far away, the navy-blue stripe beneath the uncovered sky. Past it broad fields, as cold as a fish-skin fur. Further on the greenish-yellow colour of life. On the smooth strand, transparent crescents outlined in foam. […]
the blooming meadows.
by Jakub Paczesniak. (translated by Charles S. Kraszewski) the blooming meadows spread wide just outside the door a stream of honey-coloured light fell from the sky the trees turned their green faces in our direction the valley filled with figures of air and we went along thinking that we’re going along alone