A Day for Poetry
By Indre on Friday, March 21 2008, 07:17 - Bright tomorrow's irony - Permalink
This post is also available in: Lithuanian
For nine years in a row now UNESCO tickles poets’ heels with feathers so that they continue writing and for all their work that does not go straight into the rubbish bin to be heard. March 21st is the day when we ought to remember our favourite sonnet by Shakespeare, wear our bow tie or net stockings and write an e-mail that rhymes to our friends and colleagues.
The poets’ hands guided dreamy lyrics like kites through changing winds. For example, the soviet poets of yesterday had their own agendas. Aesopean language strolled through corridors of nationalism. Today the corridors and tunnels are gone. Now, with our noses upturned, we can only fold the clouds heavy with some sort of dizziness.
At the same time the future is a threat to all nations. It is interesting to watch how the nine headed high-tech globalisation is digitizing the wild, creative side of humanity. Already we have computer programs that create effective commercials. Poetry is the next step, which our collective feet are poised for. The mechanics for the creation of inspiring and heart-warming collections of words are simple: a few keywords and the recipients ears are filled with magical poetry filled with idealism, lechery or the purest of truths.
Soon the day will come when a sensitive little robot, with an award for digital poetry, will replace the fallen heads of the Greek goddess Iambe and John Lennon.
Today we would love to make a gift of some Vytautas’ Mačernis’ poetry
***
My soul, hungry as a beast,
I feed the best fruit of the earth:
Science and art; may it enjoy
The colours and inspired tones.
I let it be perverse and then remorseful,
By wearing sharp, rough cloth,
But I cannot sate it with anything
That panther, hungry, wild.
Simona Štrimaitytė
translated by Vytautas Povilas Jurgaitis
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