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。