Tag Archives: Poetry

1675: Libertine with Monkey

Posted on February 17, 2018 by corvusfugit

Jacob Huysmans: Portrait of John Wilmont, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1647-1680) Were I (who to my cost already am One of those strange, prodigious creatures, man) A spirit free to choose, for my own share What case of flesh and … Continue reading →

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1925: The Copper Tambourine of the Night

Posted on December 19, 2017 by corvusfugit

Maximilian Voloshin: Медный бубен ночи [The Copper Tambourine of the Night] (1925) The pearl bejeweling the quiet of night, The gem of the lagoon’s star-studded base! Your light makes young and pallid every face, Thorn-apple longs for You in love-lorn … Continue reading →

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1997: Manhattan

Posted on November 11, 2017 by corvusfugit

Howard Horowitz: “Manhattan”; the landmarks mentioned in the text appear in their geographical locations on the island. Originally published in the New York Times, August 30,1997. (Apparently the formatting was lost when the print edition was converted for the Times‘s … Continue reading →

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1905: Geographische Liebes-Räthsel

Posted on November 8, 2017 by corvusfugit

Geographische Liebes-Räthsel (1905); this map by an unknown artist uses the words from a Heinrich Heine poem as its locations: Wenn ich in deine Augen seh, So schwindet all mein Leid und Weh; Doch wenn ich küsse deinen Mund, So … Continue reading →

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1806: Darkness at Noon

Posted on November 7, 2017 by corvusfugit

Title page and figures from Darkness at Noon; or, The Great Solar Eclipse of the 18th of June, 1806; “by an inhabitant of Boston.” Darkness at the break of noon Shadows even the silver spoon The handmade blade, the child’s … Continue reading →

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1842: Behold the Beast with the Sharpened Tail!

Posted on November 5, 2017 by corvusfugit

In cantos XVI and XVII of the Inferno, Dante and his guide Virgil meet the monster Geryon, who alights on the edge of the abyss after Virgil has summoned him. In front, he has the face of an innocent man, … Continue reading →

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1967: I Show You This Nickel

Posted on October 22, 2017 by corvusfugit

Money an introductory lecture This morning we shall spend a few minutes Upon the study of symbolism, which is basic To the nature of money. I show you this nickel. Icons and cryptograms are written all over The nickel: one … Continue reading →

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1814: The Fairy Vessel Performed its Little Voyage

Posted on October 21, 2017 by corvusfugit

The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley loved paper boats: Shelley’s walks, when not determined elsewhere, often tended in the direction of a pond at no great distance from Primrose Hill, very proper for the delectable amusement of sailing paper boats; or … Continue reading →

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1870: Cento

Posted on October 12, 2017 by corvusfugit

A cento is a poem composed of lines taken from other poems, either by different authors or from the same author. (Homer and Virgil are traditional favorites.) The word comes from the Greek κεντρόνη, which means “patchwork garment.” The following … Continue reading →

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17th Century: The Favorite Sounds of Finn

Posted on October 11, 2017 by corvusfugit

Binn sin, a luin Doire an Chairn! ní chuala mé i n-aird san bhith ceól ba binne ná do cheól agus tú fá bhun do nid. Aoincheól is binne fán mbith,— mairg nách éisteann ris go fóil, a mhic Arphluinn … Continue reading →

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