Tag Archives: poetry

Translating a Cryptic Text Helps Weather It

Rodney Gómez, “Mortification by Census,” Poetry, May 2023. Mortification by Census brown but which kind?no entry for oleanderno entry for ocean spume this cell by which various selves are collocatedthis cell by which various selves are evaluated to geocode the … Continue reading

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Mona Kareem’s ‘Nights’: Stanzas 5-7 (End)

This post is continued from here. Poetry, May 2023 publishes the Arabic text of Mona Kareem’s poem Lailayāt (“Nights”) along with a translation into English by Sara Elkamel. My translation follows below. 5Born between a tree’s two hands, a croneproffers … Continue reading

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Mona Kareem’s ‘Nights’: Stanzas 3-4

This post is continued from here. Poetry, May 2023 publishes the Arabic text of Mona Kareem’s poem Lailayāt (“Nights”) along with a translation into English by Sara Elkamel. I can’t vary in any interesting way Sara Elkamel’s excellent, close translation … Continue reading

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Notes on Poetry (Surprise)

“I know this sounds strange, but I think the elephant was also surprised that there were people in the room.” (John Kenney) (“The Elephant in the Room: An Oral History,” newyorker.com, 5-24-23) (c) 2023 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved

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Mona Kareem’s ‘Nights’: Stanza 2

This post is continued from here. Poetry, May 2023 publishes the Arabic text of Mona Kareem’s poem Lailayāt (“Nights”) along with a translation into English by Sara Elkamel. 2A cloud comes into view.God smiles, it’s my belief, for the hapless … Continue reading

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Notes on Poetry (‘Expressing the Unsaid’)

He was so handsome, so fine and flinty and long-boned, that he was a shock to be around — he made people stupid, or teary, or angry or skin-starved, sometimes all at once. (Dwight Garner) (Dwight Garner, “Sam Shepard and … Continue reading

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Mona Kareem’s ‘Nights’: Stanza 1

I’m pleased to encounter Mona Kareem in Poetry, May 2023 after first reading of her in Arablit & Arablit Quarterly. The Poetry issue prints the Arabic text of Kareem’s poem Lailayāt (“Nights”) along with a translation into English by Sara … Continue reading

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The Poem of as-Samau’al (Mid-6th Century AD): Verses 17-22 (End)

This post is continued from here. 17 “Our fire was never snuffed out to a sojourner, and no traveller stopping over has found us wanting.18 “Our days are well known to our enemy. They have marked blazes and pasterns.19 “Our … Continue reading

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Addled Addiction Ditty

You get locked so hard into a wicked beatit’s hard to get locked out.You’re like rocked in you are so into it,so all you do is you rock out.Rock your socks off, get your rocks off,all fucked up is what … Continue reading

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Lie, Lay, Etc.: Humdrum Conundrum

I always lay my keys on the table when I get home. I laid them there an hour ago. They lay there undisturbed last night, and they’ll lie there tomorrow until I need the car. Using lie-lay-lain and lay-laid-laid according … Continue reading

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