Once my great grandfather sent a postcard from Vienna with the Prater on and wrote, “A must-see!” And my mother, who did not keep the postcard, but remembers the story and remembers dreaming of Vienna speaks to me of this…
Calliope’s Voice
Poets from the World, Adolf P. Shvedchikov, Russia
GIVE ME A SEMI-DROWSINESS OF YOUR HALF-CLOSED EYES Give me a semi-drowsiness of your half-closed eyes, Let me run like a current in your veins To reach your heart, to dissolve within you, To melt like spring snow. I wish…
Albert Russo: poet
ODE TO MAMICA MIA , my BELOVED MOTHER by her son Albert Russo Mamica mia being the endearing term that comes from the Italian ‘Mamma mia cara’ (my darling mother), which my two sisters and I always called her ever…
Poets of the World, Gülsüm Cengiz, Turkey
KAMBER ATEŞ, HOW ARE YOU? This poem is written for a Kurdish mother, visiting her son in prison seeing him for the first time after seven years, but she is forbidden to speak her own language, so she uses a…
Poets of the World, Siobhan Mac Mahon, Ireland
Seven Demons Perhaps you do not have to slay Seven demons with your bare arms Whilst riding on the back of seven dragons Snorting fire, careering through the seven canons of hell Pursued by the seven deadly sins (though I…
Poets of the World, Agron Shele, Albania
White Light A white light, Wakened in the waters of my soul, Over the wings of a flying bird Just as once before… A mirror of a reborn life in turmoil Just as today… Kidnapped from warm verses in rebellion.…
Poets of the World, Jeton Kelmendi, Kosovo
Under the shade of memory I told you something forgotten The things that you will not remember even tomorrow Forgiveness is always much more ancient When silence is traveling At the oak dried from the sun I am awaiting you…