第1章

TOMYFATHER

ICREATION

CreatorSpirituncreatedSailsonfleetwavesfaraway,Worldsheave,Livesaregenerated,HisEyespansEternity。

AllinspiritingreignshisCountenance,Initsburningmagic,Formscondense。

VoidspulsateandAgesroll,DeepinprayerbeforehisFace;

SpheresresoundandSea—Floodsswell,GoldenStarsrideonapace。

Fatherheadinblessinggivesthesign,AndtheAllisbathedinLightdivine。

Inboundsself—perceived,theEternalSilentmoves,reflectively,UntilholyThoughtprimordialDonsForms,WordsofPoetry。

Then,likeThunder—lyresfromfarawayLikeprescientCreation’sJubilee:

\"Gentlershinethefloatingstars,WorldsinprimalRocknowrest;

OmySpirit’simages,BebySpiritnewembraced;

Whentoyoutheheavingbosomsmove,Berevealedinpietyandlove。

\"BeunlockedonlytoLove;

Eternity’seternalseat,AstoyouIgentlygave,HurlyoumySoul’slightningout。

’Harmonyaloneitslikemayfind,OnlySoulanotherSoulmaybind。’

OutofmeyourSpiritsburnIntoFormsofloftymeaning;

TotheMakeryoureturn,Imagesnomoreremaining,ByMan’slookofLoveringedburningly,Youinhimdissolved,andheinme。\"

IIPOETRY

FlamesCreator—likeoncepouredStreamingtomefromyourbreast,Clashinguponhightheysoared,AndInursedtheminmybreast。

ShoneyourformlikeAeolus—strainsabove,ShieldedsoftthefirewithwingsofLove。

IsawglowandIheardsound,Heavensonwardsweepingfar,Risingupandsinkingdown,Sinkingbuttosoarthehigher。

Then,wheninnerstrifeatlastwasquelled,GriefandJoymademusicIbeheld。

NestlingclosetoformssosoftStandstheSoul,byspellsenchained,FrommeimagessailedaloftByyourveryLoveinflamed。

LimbsofLove,bySpiritoncereleased,ShineagainwithintheirMaker’sbreast。

Bookofverse——KarlMarxTHEMAGICHARPABalladSostrangelyintheearitsings,Likethrillingharp,liketremblingstrings,ItwakestheMinstrelsleeping。

\"Whybeatstheheartsofearfully,Whatarethosesounds,likeharmonyOfStarsandSpiritsweeping?\"

Herises,springsfromoffhisbed,TowardstheshadowsturnshisheadAndseesthecordsofgold。

\"Come,Minstrel,stepyouupanddown,Highintheair,deepintheground,Thosestringsyoucannothold。\"

Heseesitgrowing,branchingwide,Hissoulistroubleddeepinside,Thesoundswellsintheair。

Hefollows,anditlureshimon,Byghostlystairwaysupanddown,Here,thereandeverywhere。

Hestops。Agateswingsopenwide,AburstofmusicfrominsideWouldcarryhimaway。

ALyreingoldensplendourbrightSoundsforthinsongalldayandnight,Butnoone’stheretoplay。

Itgripshimlikedesire,likepain,Hisbosomswells,hisheartwithinBeatshighbeyondcontrol。

\"TheLyreplaysfrommyownheart,Itismyself,itspangs——theArtThatgushesfrommysoul。\"

Inecstasyheplucksthestrings,Thesoundtrillshighasmountainsprings,Divesbooming,liketheabyss。

Hisbloodleapswild,farswellshissong,Wasneveryearning’spainsostrong,Hesawtheworldnomore。

Bookofverse——KarlMarxYEARNINGARomance\"Whysighsyourbreast,whyglowsyourgaze,Whyareyourveinsallburning,AsifNightweighs,asifFateflaysDownintostormyouryearning?\"

\"Showmetheeyes,likeringingbells,Thatglowinrainbowshigh,Wherebrightnessstreams,wheremusicswells,Wherestarsgoswimmingby。

\"Idreamedthisdream,sotroublesome,Pastallelucidating。

Myheadisvoid,myheartisnumb,Mygraveshallsoonbewaiting。\"

\"Whatdreamyouhere,whatdreamyouthere,Whatlurestodistantlands?

HereboomstheTide,hereHoperidesfair,Here’sfireinTrueLove’sbonds。\"

\"Herenaughtridesfair,hereisnofire,Butseewhatglimmersyonder,I’mblinded,burningwithdesire,AndIwouldfainsinkunder。\"

Hestaresaloft,hiseyesshinebright,Heshakesineverylimb。

Hissinewsswell,hisheart’salight,Hissouldepartsfromhim。

Bookofverse——KarlMarxWILDSONGSI。THEFIDDLERTheFiddlersawsthestrings,Hislightbrownhairhetossesandflings。

Hecarriesasabreathisside,Hewearsapleatedhabitwide。

\"Fiddler,whythatfranticsound?

Whydoyougazesowildlyround?

Whyleapsyourblood,likethesurgingsea?

Whatdrivesyourbowsodesperately?\"

\"WhydoIfiddle?Orthewildwavesroar?

Thattheymightpoundtherockyshore,Thateyebeblinded,thatbosomswell,ThatSoul’scrycarrydowntoHell。\"

\"Fiddler,withscornyourendyourheart。

AradiantGodlentyouyourart,Todazzlewithwavesofmelody,Tosoartothestar—danceinthesky。\"

\"Howso!Iplunge,plungewihoutfailMyblood—blacksabreintoyoursoul。

ThatartGodneitherwantsnorwists,ItleapstothebrainfromHell’sblackmists。

\"Tillheart’sbewitched,tillsensesreel:

WithSatanIhavestruckmydeal。

Hechalksthesigns,beatstimeforme,Iplaythedeathmarchfastandfree。

\"Imustplaydark,Imustplaylight,Tillbowstringsbreakmyheartoutright。\"

TheFiddlersawsthestrings,Hislightbrownhairhetossesandflings。

Hecarriesasabreathisside,Hewearsapleatedhabitwide。IINOCTURNALLOVEFrantic,heholdshernear,Darklylooksinhereye。

\"Painsoburnsyou,Dear,Andatmybreathyousigh。

\"Oh,youhavedrunkmysoul。

Mineisyourglow,intruth。

Myjewel,shineyourfill。

Glow,bloodofyouth。\"

\"Sweetest,sopaleyourface,Sowondrousstrangeyourwords。

See,richinmusic’sgraceTheloftyglidingworlds。\"

\"Gliding,dearest,gliding,Glowing,stars,glowing。

Letusgoheavenwardsriding,Oursoulstogetherflowing。\"

Hisvoiceismuffled,low。

Desparate,helooksabout。

GlancesofcracklingflameHisholloweyesshootout。

\"Youhavedrunkpoison,Love。

Withmeyoumustaway。

Theskyisdarkabove,NomoreIseetheday。\"

Shuddering,hepullsherclosetohim。

Deathinthebreastdothhover。

Painstabsher,piercingdeepwithin,Andeyesareclosedforever。

Bookofverse——KarlMarxSIRENSONGABalladThewave,softmurmuring,Withthewindfrolicking,Leapsupintotheair。

Youseeittremble,hover,Tumbleandtoppleover,ItistheSirens’lair。

TheypluckthelyretoenthrallInheavenlyfestival,Inmelodydivine。

Theydrawbothnearandfar,EarthanddistantstarIntotheirsongsublime。

ItscharmissoprofoundOnecannotchidethesoundThatsoarssoradiantly。

AsifgreatspiritsthereWouldlurethelistenerIntothedarkbluesea。

AsifthereswellsandgrowsFromwavesaworldthatflowsLoftily,secretly。

AsifinwatersdeepTheGodsareallasleepDowninthedarkbluesea。

Alittleboatdrawsnear,ThewavesarecharmedtohearAgentlebardexalted,Hislookssofrankandfree,ImageandmelodyLikeloveandhopetransfigured。

Hislyreruleso’erthedeep。

NaiadsthatwereasleepLendhimtheirsong—charmedear。

AndallthewavesresoundWithsongandlyre’ssweetsoundAnddancehighintheair。

Buthearthesadrefrains,TheSirens’far—offstrainsOfsweetmelodiousness。

Thepoettoenthrall,TheGoddessesshineallInsoundandloveliness。

\"Oyouth,soarupandplay,Ruleo’erthelisteningsea;

Thegoalyouseekishigh,Yourbreastswellsrapturously。

\"Here,sumptuouswater—hallsYoursongalonesurprises,Andasthegreattidefalls,Ev’nsoyourmusicrises。

\"SportivewavesbearitupAndsenditsurginghigh。

Theeye,bright,fullofhope,Encompassesthesky。

\"EnterourSpirit—Ring;

Magicyourheartshallgain,Hearthewavesdanceandsing,TheysoundlikeTrueLove’spain。

\"WorldscamefromtheOcean,SpiritswereborneonthetideWhichdaredtocradletheHighOnes,WhiletheAllwasvoid。

\"AsHeavenandstar—glowLookdownwards,everglancingIntothewavesbelow,Intothebluewaves’dancing——

\"Asdroplets,shivering,shaking,EnfoldtheWorldsinpride,Thespirits’life,awaking,Emergesfromthetide。

\"SeekingtheAllinspiresyou?

You’dburninsongaway?

Thelyre’ssweetmusicstirsyou?

You’dblazeinHeaven’sray?——

\"Thencomedowntousall,Andtenderusyourhand;

YourlimbsshallSpiritbe,You’llseethedeep,deepLand。\"

Theyriseupfromthesea,Hairweavinginroundelay,Headsrestingontheair。

Theireyesflashblazingfires,And,shootingsparks,theirlyresGlowthroughthewatersfair。

TheYouthyieldstoDelusion,Histearsflowinprofusion,Hisheartpoundsinhisbreast。

Hecannotturnaway,HeldcaptiveinLove’ssway,Toburningpassionlost。

Deepthoughtsstirinhissoul,Itfightstogaincontrol,Soarshigher,everhigher,Looksupwithpridefulbearing,InGod’sownimagedaring,AndthistheSirenshear:

\"InyourcolddepthsbelowNothingthat’sHighcango,NorGodburndeathlessly。

Youglitterbuttoensnare,Formeyouhavenocare,Yoursongsaremockery。

\"Youlackthebosom’sbeat,Theheart’slife—givingheat,Thesoul’shighflightsofree。

TheGodsinmybreastrule,AndIobeythemall;

Imeannotreachery。

\"YoushallnotcaptivateMe,normylove,norhate,Noryetmyyearning’sglow。

ItshootslikelightningshaftsThatgentlepowerupliftsInmelodiesthatflow。

TheSirensallsinkdownBeforehisblazingfrownInweepingspringsoflight。

Theyseektofollowhim,Butah,theFloodsogrimEngulfsthemallfromsight。

Bookofverse——KarlMarxTHELITTLEOLDMANOFTHEWATERABalladThewatersrushwithaneeriesound,Thewavesareswirlingroundandround。

Theyseemtofeelnopainatall,Astheybreakandfall,Coldofheart,coldofmind,Rushing,rushingallthetime。

2

ButdowninthedepthswherethewatersrageSitsamannikin,whitewithage。

HedancesaboutwhentheMoonappears,Whenlittlestarthroughcloudletpeers。

Eerilyhoppingandskipping,he’dtryTodrinkthelittlestreamletdry。

3

Wavesarehismurderers,everyone,Theygnawhisancientskeleton,ItcutsthroughhismarrowandlimblikeiceToseethemgambolinthiswise;

HisfaceisagrimaceofsorrowandgloomTillsunshinestopsthedanceoftheMoon。

4

Thewatersthenrushwithaneeriesound,Thewavesareswirlingroundandround。

Theyseemtofeelnopainatall,Astheybreakandfall,Coldofheart,coldofmind,Rushing,rushingallthetime。

Bookofverse——KarlMarxTHEFIRSTELEGYOvid’sTristiaFreelyRendered1

Go,littlebook,makehasteaway,Gotothejoyfulvictoryseat。

Igonotwithyou,Imuststay,ForbyJove’slightningIwashit。

2

Go,poorlycladandindigent!

PutonyourMaster’smourningdress,Asisbefittingbanishment,Andascommandsthistimeofstress。

3

OnyoumustshinenopurpleveilTomakeinviolet’sblooditsshow。

LongingandhopewithoutavailCannotwearjoy’sexaltedglow。

4

Inshamefulsilencehideyourname,Andletnoscentofcedarwaft,NorsilverknobshinebrighttoshameTheblacknessofyourcrookedstaff。

5

ToworksbyFortuneblessedisdueSuchdecoration,rareandbright。

Onlymypainshallmatewithyou,Onlymysorrow’sdarkestnight。

6

Shaggyandroughyoumayappear,Likeonewhosehairunkempthangsdown,NotrenderedwondroussoftandfairBysmoothingblockofpumice—stone。

7

Ifdarkerisyourpallidface,Itisbecausebyme’twasstained。

Oh,howmytearshaveflownapaceAndhotlydownonyouhaverained。

8

Go,book,andgreetthoseplaces,greetThehallowedspotsodeartome。

DreamstakemethereonpinionsfleetOfmagicwordandfantasy。

9

Ifsomeone,seeingyou,atlastShouldfindhismemorystirred,andpesterWithquestionsflyingthickandfastOfhimwhosentyouthere,yourMaster;

10

I’mstillalive——thatyoumaysay,AndthatIhopeforrescuesoon,Andifmypulsestillbeatsaway,Itisamercy,notaboon。

11

Ifsomeoneasksyoufurtherquestions,Mindeachandeveryspokenword。

Bewareofthoughtlessindiscretions,Inwordandtonebeonyourguard。

12

Manywillscoldyouandberateyou,RemindingyouIwastoblame。

Asmyaccomplicetheywillrateyou,Youwillcastdownyoureyesinshame。

13

ToinsultsandtocondemnationListen,butkeepyourmouthclosedtight。

Firewillnotquenchaconflagration,Twowrongswillnevermakearight。

14

Yetsomethere’llbe,asyouwillfind,Whospeaktoyouwithmeltingsighs。

AflowofgentletearswillblindThelightoflongingintheireyes。

15

ThentenderwordswillflowandmildForthfromthebosomagitated。

\"CouldCaesarbutbereconciled,Thepunishmentbemitigated……\"

16

Whosayswithkindsolicitude,\"MayGodbemercifulonhigh,\"

ForhimIpraywithgratitude,\"Maythundereverpasshimby!\"

17

Wouldhisdesiremightbefulfilled:

Oh,letmediethereinthatseatWhichtheGodsintheirkeepinghold。

MayCaesar’slightningloseitsheat!

18

Whenthusmygreetingsyou’veconveyed。

TheymaylaychargesatmydoorThatnosweetformhasbeendisplayed,Andthatmyspiritfailstosoar。

19

ButletthecriticbeawareDuringwhattimestheworkwasdone,Andifhisjudgment’ssoundandfair,Youneednotfear——thedanger’sgone。

20

Forpoetry’smagicfullnessflowsOutofabreaststirredwithelation,Butoh,apallofdarkestwoesCoversthebrow,killsinspiration。

21

AndthenhislyricsallbewailThesinger’sexile,harshanddread,Andstorm,andsea,andwinterflailAroundhisall—unheedinghead!

22

FearmustnotclutchwithicygripIfsplendidsongistobeheard,Alonelyoutcasthere,Iweep——

Look,yondergleamsthemurder—sword!

23

WhateverIhavesofardoneHaswonthefairercriticround,Andhewillpassmymessageon,Bearingmygrievousplightinmind。

24

GivemeMaeonides,forone,(Homer)

Plungehiminmisery,likeme,Hismagicpowerswillbegone,Dangerisallhiseyeswillsee。

25

Go,book,goforthuponyourway,Heednotthevoiceofevilfame。

Ifscornfulfolkcastyouaway,Donotbeoverwhelmedbyshame。

26

’TisnotthatFortune’sgentlewavesBearmesolovinglyalongThatpraiseorprizemyspiritcraves,ThatIseekrecompenseforsong。

27

WhenwithdesireIstillwasbedded,Theninspirationwelledinme,TothirstforgloryIwasfettered,Theworld’sraceforcelebrity。

28

ButiftheLyresoundsasbefore,Andiftheurgestillburnsasstrong,Surelymyheartneedasknomore,Seeingmydownfallcamefromsong?

29

Go——itisnotprohibitedThatyoushouldseeRome’spompforme。

IfonlyImightgoinstead,WatchedbyaGodindulgently!

30

Donotimaginethatyou’llwendYourwayunrecognisedthroughRome,ThattothepublicyouwillbendYourstepsunheededandunknown。

31

Thoughyoulacktitle,witnesses,Yourcolourwillbetrayyourname。

Ifyoudenymenonetheless,You’llshowyourselfupjustthesame。

32

SlipquietlythroughthegatesandwatchMysongsinflictonyounohurt。

Nomoretheysinglove’spraiseswhichSomuchdelightthedrunkenheart。