I knew a Slovenian poet in college, or so he said. I never disputed his claim on poetry or Slovenia, though there was more than reasonable doubt behind either declaration. My first college roommate, with her vulgar bedroom habits and less than inspired imagination, could have easily challenged him in that department. You know what they say — and rightly so. Live and let lie.
Thank goodness for real Slovenian poets. A post at Guernica reminded me that Slovenian poet, Aleš Šteger’s The Book of Things is now fully translated by Brian Henry, and available.
EARRING
The whole time he tells you what to do.
His voice is chocolate candy filled with hysteria.
He is a loving blackmailer. An owl blind in one eye.
It is enough that he sees half the world to command the other half.
He gladly inspects himself in the mirror, but goes crazy if you praise him
Before another. He is not your property. He is not your adornment.
Only when you dance and when you make love with him, he coos.
Then cages open. Then he is the white message bearer of the gods.
Gradually you detach him more often, hide him in a box, misplace him.
But his bite at the lobe still whispers to you.
As if Eros holds you with invisible filigree pliers
And solders words of guilt and the silence of betrayal into your ear.
A copy of a stone from Sisyphus’s mountain is set inside it.
You roll hope uphill. And you roll downhill drunk, despondent and alone.
Aleš Šteger
Translated by Brian Henry, from The Book of Things.
poetry is usually if not always over my head, it might as well be in another language.
I can tell this is good though. ;)
Take my word, it’s good.
That sounds, arrogant doesn’t it?
And solders words of guilt and the silence of betrayal into your ear.
Fabulous.
Yes it is. I love that others also appreciate it.
I was going to quote a line but had too much trouble deciding which was the most beautiful
Thank you Cooper. This poem made my morning
You are one of the people Stewart is making the rally for–too busy. I hope you can make it
I’m happy to have made your morning, you need to gather happiness for your trip.
You roll hope uphill.
Love that line.
Real poetry reminds me that I should probably cease attempting to write poetry. But it does so gently, almost apologetically.
Bone recently posted..Boys night out
Poets make poetry and they also make poets, and so it goes.
Magnificent poem.
Can’t choose a favorite line.
I always wonder at the accuracy of translated poems, the translator must be very good indeed and astute in both languages.
A book worth buying I think.
This guy is good. I ordered one for myself and three for others.
Awesome poem. Makes me want to start writing again though-it’s been a couple of years since I’ve written real poetry.
translations are tricky, look at the disputes over Neruda’s work.
A book to put on my Christmas list, and to to give as a gift as well.
thanks
Back when you were really writing yes, you should do that more often…you wrote with Nathanson…did he take your stuff?
Great gift for sure but mostly for myself. lol
Wow, I could be a Slovenian poet!
Chris recently posted..Sign of the Times
But to be a good one, that is more complicated.
Very nice. Thanks for making us literate.
Doug recently posted..Pigmy
You needed help with that…..I don’t think so Doug.
I’m a medical student not a poet. My poetry literacy is not that sharp, but that’s a beautiful poem.
Glad you liked it gills.
Thank you for these things I’d never know about otherwise.
kait recently posted..Ali Ro
I bet there’s more where that comes from, but seriously I’d not know of Ali Ro if not for you.
When I read poetry like this it makes me feel poetic.
Good stuff.
If it makes you feel poetic it has to be special.
Translators have my profound admiration – as well as this poet, of course.
I read Dante as a young teen (yeah, I know) and was wounded permanently when I learned that it was a translation and not the “real” thing!
ChrisJ recently posted..Bath with a View- Fireplace- and Room for a Pony
My admiration as well.
I’ll raise a glass to real Slovenian poets any day.
Yes, that sentence could be shorter and still be true.
Thanks for that.
EsotericWombat recently posted..One Word- Shore
You welcome in that regard…even my own comments will not let me write a three word comment.
Exquisite poem, my wife will thank you when that book arrives.
I know someone is a poet when I a non- poet like me finds the poem so amazing.
The great thing about blogging is being able to find things that otherwise in daily life one would miss.
I knew an Idahoan poet in college and she was a real poet from Idaho. ;)
Not the same I know.
It is an Exquisite poem. I am glad to share it.
Poems have to be translated always and not only from one language to another, if you know what I mean.
Like an earlier commenter I am not a poet or a poetry connoisseur, but even I know that is a good poem.
casey recently posted..Creep Fantastico
This guy is pretty awesome.
Cooper, sometimes you’re like a door to another world, thanks for the Slovenian Poets, both of them! Mostly though for Aleš Šteger: the piece pulls you into itself, willing or not.
Billy Flynn recently posted..Should I Stay or Should I Go
It’s fun being a door to another world. If only that were a real job.
Bless Guernica for all things awesome.
And what awesome lines:
“As if Eros holds you with invi si ble fili gree pliers
And sol ders words of guilt and the silence of betra yal into your ear.”
Guernica is a great at aggregating the things I love.
That’s it.
“You are like a door to another world”
Thanks for passing on a poem I’d never have seen otherwise.
dane recently posted..Nosferatu
How flattering, being a door to another world.