Monday, October 18, 2021

La umanità nuova

Come the revolution our poems will all conform

to the deepest ideal within the heart of man

pure egalitarian esteem will become the norm

that nurtures each through a long fruitful lifespan

happenstance will join love's madcap caravan

time itself assuming a mode gentle & warm

violence will cease! & to the spiritual plan

come the revolution our poems will all conform


Each event of life will be seen as a petal unfolding

in the perfect place at the choicest time & we

will be daily astounded how we're now beholding

blussful wave on wave in a boisterous sea of glee

humankind will at last have hit its winning spree!

like an alchemist whose crucible is a'golding

every thought being wreathed in gossamer poetry

each event of life will be seen as a petal unfolding


That an age of intuition will emerge

to replace in time our era of rational thought

that of such a fresh chapter we're on the verge

that its rosy fragrance can e'en now be caught

that this is largesse from God not an ornament bought

at the TED Talk shop where oftentimes we'll splurge

is a pearl through hide & seek our souls have sought

that an age of intuition will emerge


Now we find ourselves a'sail on a novel voyage

over waters dark toward an unknown haven of landing

like a couple cloistered in their wedding carriage

like a newborn who must crawl in lieu of standing

like a slumberous dreamer suddenly at the ending

of a nightmare like a vessel amid the boyage

of an unknown port with darkling dusk descending

now we find ourselves a'sail on a novel voyage


We assume the ego's conflicts are required

to push forward in the narrative of our lives

& the same expanded keeps society fired

for the thrust that drives our buzzing social hives

yet the ones who into Unity's ocean dive

when they surface bring a vision so inspired

it retools the route whereby our thoughts arrive

to assume the ego's conflicts are required


Humankind is ready for a complete reboot!

like a noisy day that's ready for night's hush

like a wilted flower ready for fine fruit

like a gambler waiting for his royal flush

like a Californian in a new Gold Rush

like a milkmaid hearkening Lord Krishna's flute

like a field well sown awaiting verdure lush

humankind is ready for a complete reboot!


That the New Humanity can become our reality

Is a point worth adding to our computations!

yes we've weathered many a scrape in rough duality

having scuffled through a myriad reincarnations

yet of revelations meriting contemplations

let us use (to quote Cole Porter) our mentality

& review Meher Baba's bright prognostications

that the New Humanity can become our reality


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This rather ambitious poem contemplates the topic of "the New Humanity" (as described and predicted by Meher Baba in a discourse with that title, first published I believe in the late 1930s).

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

"Of gentle maidens" [translated from the Shi Jing]

Of gentle maidens she most fair awaits me by the wall's corner she I love but see not there I scratch my head – a forlorner Of gentle maidens she most comely brings a red-hued reed to me the red-hued reed indeed is lovely pleasing is the girl's beauty She yields from the meadow a soft leaflet truly lovely! yea 'tis rare not that thou art comely but thou art the gift of one most fair



I first translated this poem more than 40 years ago. It came to mind today, and I've given it a fresh polish.  My prior rendering of verse 1 had been:

Of gentle maidens she most fair
awaits me by the wall I know
she I love but see not there
I scratch my head bewildered so

My new translation of line 2 is more literal, more accurate.
If I recall correctly, Arthur Waley translated line 4 as:
"I scratch my head and pace up and down"

The Shi Jing -- an anthology of ancient folksongs -- is traditionally believed to have been compiled by Confucius. He makes reference to some of the poems in some of his discourses. This courtship poem has always struck me as quite special. And I like how the poet addresses the leaflet-gift (in the 3rd stanza) directly.

What sparked my recollection of this olden poem today?  A terse tweet:
"what is the theme of this poem" liking boy
Pascale/Palaces @pascalepalaces
10:55 AM · Jan 4, 2021