duminică, 29 septembrie 2024

Sonnets to Swallow

 1. It Was This Morning 
I did suddenly burst into tears this very day,
And not “maybe it was yesterday”, it was this morning;
It feels worse and better than anyone would say,
But I hate paralysing, all without a warning.
If I could, I would leave scratches on my own face
Because be damned if I can accept such strong feelings;
Forgetting the cat, the charger, the book is enough to shake the base,
And ruin all the glass, clay, crystal sealings.
But it still burns me anytime it starts
Because the beginning is always without a reason;
I guess the brain has its own terrifying arts
Because existing with it can feel like a prison or treason.
I hate showing my heart more than I could say
Because there isn't much light, from the first day to the last May.

2.  Ladro di fiori
When I look into the mirror, I cannot see myself 
Because I only notice a stained-glass hidden by grey clouds; 
Regardless of how many books or bottles I have on my shelf,
I never seem able to attract large crowds.
Like Faunus inspecting each and every tree,
I look at your jade eyes without ever being tired;
And like Orpheus who sang to anyone he could see, 
I sing the song of an arrow that had fired.
In order to see myself, I'd rather have your eyes
Because I wonder what you see when you look at me;
But still close them, your heart can tell no lies, 
And I swear your tender touch stings like a bee.
Goddess of all that's beautiful, listen to my song
For I smell of lavender and speak in Sappho's tongue. 

3.  My Heavy Head
An arrow pierces again through my heavy head, 
Yet nothing other than crying seems to follow;
Regardless of the scars or the stitches that bled,
The night often feels endless, yet hollow.
Something burns from the inside or outside 
Because even an oblivious man notices such a weight;
Yet a distracting smile pushes the doubt further aside
Because nobody wants to see the numbness of a mate.
But I accepted it, and so most of its power is gone, 
Although the lead arrows still hit my head;
Now only the scars remain, a memory of what is done,
A memory of a mask or a wound of what was said.
And so my head keeps spinning endlessly,
But a dose of indifference acts frequently mercilessly.

4. Kingslayer
A king sits on his throne with a lust in his eyes
Because he waits for an heir, gold, and adoration; 
All around him hear, but don't listen to his lies
Because most already foresee his damnation.
One day, somebody is missing from the council of the crown,
And nobody can find the knife with the lion's head;
A strangled shout accompanies the king's final frown,
Revealing the one who cut with the knife of lead.
'He brought his own demise, I only hurried his fate;
Who's the madman: I or the one who tore everything apart?'
But no one listened, all saw his words as a bait, 
Yet, the kingslayer gave birth to another art.
Is it worth being the harbinger of a new hour, 
Even when all around you are left feeling the sour? 

5. I Talk to Dear Achilles 
The moon shines brightly through the darkness of the night
While everyone is quietly sleeping to the song of the sea; 
I talk to dear Achilles until the dawn is in sight
Or until he grows tired of laughing and crying with me.
Then he takes his lyre and sings a song to my name
For a reason only his mind could understand; 
Before meeting Achilles, I only knew cursing and blame,
But he loves to say “Patroclus” enough to force such a rule to bend.
Now he cradles me, crying makes him wish to gauge out his own eyes
Or simply chase death because Achilles' fire lost its rain;
His bloodshot eyes and pale face could never tell lies
Because all his rage mirrors the weight of his pain.
His reason for joy became the blame of his vengeance 
Because without Patroclus, he knows no temperance. 

6.  It's Stuck in My Head
It's stuck in my head, and without a proper reason 
Because the lyrics aren't the best either way;
Still, I could never say it's treason 
Because the guitar, and drums will be the best until the last May.
This song is sexy, but that never had on me any effect 
Because I seem to be immune to such a voice;
The fragrance of bisexuality is all I can detect, 
And that's enough of a reason for me to rejoice.
It's a song you sing to get Achilleans & Sapphics all around you, 
Which is nothing but a blessing, I'd say.
For such a reason, I may appreciate this one too;
Because since, lesbians see in me the beauty of a Blue Jay.
I don't truly like this song, but I adore its effect
Because to attract gays is nothing less than perfect. 

7. About an Astronaut & a Phoenix (first in the book)
The wind blows again in Udine, and carries a phoenix with wide-open wings
Who faces an astronaut before rising above the forest;
Sometimes the numbness is swallowing all mood swings,
But a calm voice echoes a mind that's honest.
You speak like a professor about moonlight, and the boat of Tagore 
Because your mind reaches far beyond your work in engineering;
You read Blaga's “Poems of Light”, to thank you I'll read “L'ardore”, 
Although I know depression might always be searing.
I might misinterpret it all, while you simply have a problem with your phone,
And be damned if I don't hope to be entirely wrong; 
But considering the signs you've often shown, 
I hardly doubt I misheard the lyrics of your song. 
I'm probably exaggerating to assume such a tragedy, 
But I fear your depression has found its worst remedy. 

(For the book: “To Daniele, one of the first people who encouraged me to publish my sonnets, as well as the one who suggested the illustrations: if this book reaches Udine by any chance, I hope a certain engineer has a second of joy while reading it. I learned a lot from you, your phoenix, and your astronaut!”
Next page: “Come l'aria mi respirerai…”-Måneskin, “Le parole lontane”) 

8. My Best Siblings
Racing heart, head & stomach aches, but not because it's hot, 
It's only because anxiety is trying to get the best of me;
Processing weirdly turns my head into a boiling pot, 
But there are people who don't back away at what they see. 
I never had brothers or sisters, certainly not by blood, 
But I do have a few I've met along the way;
Sometimes I'm flushed in the face or tears come in a flood, 
And it baffles me to see them by side, even in my worst day. 
Yet we help each other out with a listening ear 
Or a hand that's never pointed in judgement; 
Even when loneliness & panic start to sear, 
We always try to create a calm, open environment. 
I guess to find siblings is a better matter 
Than amongst relatives to be the mad hatter.  

9. Seven Crowns of Gold 
Seven crowns of gold now align on his head 
Because he knows best how to achieve his goal; 
Regardless of the births or deaths or who had bled, 
All he cares about is the purging of a damned soul. 
With swords as crosses, he pierces through everyone 
Who dares to defy the limits of his colour-blindness; 
White as tunic, red for colleagues, purple for no one, 
Whoever has scars from such burns ends up in numbness. 
Achilles & Patroclus, da Vinci & Salai, none exist in his all-seeing eyes 
Because none could pay enough for forgiveness; 
All he sells about their love is built on harmful lies 
Because all he knew was his colour-blind stiffness. 
They wonder why people wake up to leave such a way 
While silent, eyes will sting until the final May. 

10.  My Head Is Spinning Once Again
My head is spinning once again because I feel my heart racing,
Even though I'll be with friends and shouldn't worry;
Given the storms I'm too used to facing,
I still think I could have a reason to be sorry.
My anxiety is rising, and I'm already tired 
Of having a brain which keeps malfunctioning;
If I was the boss, he'd be instantly fired 
Or I'd beg for a secretary to learn the way of organising.
Oh, boy, how much could I hate my head,
Especially when it starts to fire all the alarms for nothing?!
When it wasn't tied, my tongue had heavily bled, 
But I still found moments when I was hysterically laughing.
I do still have my days of worry or headaches that are too painful, 
But I'm glad I'm nowhere near as sorrowful. 

11. The Labyrinth is Never Joyful 
At the day's dawn, everyone knows their way in & out 
The labyrinth many call socialisation; 
All follow a thread or know a path about, 
Except for me, I cannot identify such a salvation. 
At noon, the golden fleece reaches most of the arriving hands 
While the Minotaur dies, and rises, even when a Jason is refused; 
Walking through the labyrinth feels like running sands 
Because my knees, hands, and back are already bruised. 
At night, I always hit my head against its stone walls, 
But I never see how much I could bleed; 
That's why I never hear any outside calls, 
Nor do I realise I might be of a different breed. 
At times, Icarus' way to the sun can be painful, 
But staying mindlessly in the labyrinth is never joyful. 

12. Those Who Bark & Bite Make the Loudest Sound (last in the book)
You suddenly disappeared, but now I understand why,
And worry has already turned into happiness;
Nobody should believe the first sonnet or its lie 
Because at this moment I feel nothing but gratefulness.
Those great conversations have returned, and the universe keeps expanding 
Because few people are open to talk about truly everything; 
Some back off or say the subject is too demanding, 
Although it doesn't cost more than a switch in a thought's string.
I'm glad to have a handful of friends, to count you in for such a game 
Because beautiful ideas are born from all heads around; 
There's a lot to learn when minds are without any blame, 
But sometimes those who bark & bite make the loudest sound. 
I don't think I could live without any friends at all 
Because, in such a large world, I would feel too small. 
 
13. Shouts & Tears Are Only Triple 
Conflicts arise for all the impossible reasons, 
Especially when pride or greed takes over the mind; 
A hell had already been loosened for many seasons 
Because of all the words whispered from behind. 
When a war breaks out, others are no longer people, 
They are only harbingers of death, and suffering, and uncertainty; 
Still, the shouts & tears are only triple 
When every commoner becomes synonymous with calamity. 
And so we hate each other while building walls in a circular world 
Because we know nothing better than to endlessly bite. 
It's easy to complain while vomiting through every word; 
But if we like the same music, why can't we rise to the same height? 
Human or not, I can respect everyone, 
Unless they don't acknowledge what has been done. 

14. The Moon Is Changing Its Colours 
The moon is changing its colours, while I can't see the stars any more, 
But I don't understand how I should feel; 
Rain brings joy, the sun only knows what's sore 
Because neither light, nor shade, is afraid of my iron seal. 
A dry year leads to hallucinations or extreme boredom 
Because curiosity cannot grow inside a cage; 
Only numbness grows under the rules of your kingdom 
While inside its walls is fuelled my fire of rage. 
Now our world is turning while the universe keeps expanding 
Because we're still moving to find or admire new places; 
I no longer hear whatever everyone else is demanding 
Because nobody can expect the changes of my paces. 
Rage might turn the planet into a tempest, 
If listening to the wind serves no interest. 

15. Whispering Without a Break 
Everyone is saying loudly or whispering without a break: 
'You should listen more to me, I should be the one to decide!' 
I often leave, there's no move I could ever make, 
But then they wonder: 'Why does she always try to hide?' 
Everyone says it's always better to act in their way 
As if they already knew what suits the modern world. 
But I cannot avoid mistakes until the last May 
Because against all madness, I still have a word. 
Now I hear whispers, but without resonance in my head 
Because I get to say in who walks the attic of my mind; 
Too many tears, too many stitched wounds had bled 
For me to keep shouting into a void, to only watch from behind. 
So keep saying what you wish, just know it makes no sound; 
Between yelling, and staying quiet, I prefer the middle ground. 

16. Like a Seagull 
Like a seagull above Napoli, I fly above & beyond to find 
The mistery of all that's beautiful in our world; 
Strangely enough, I often see it both in front of me and behind 
Because I love every eye, and ear, and cemetery, and word. 
In all eyes I notice curiosity for all that's around me, 
Along with the art of expression in every single trade. 
Still, I need my ears to hear stories, to be able to see 
From different angles florins ringing while melting into the universe's braid. 
But I'm not afraid of cemeteries, I embrace them as part of living 
Because my love extends even to places where lights never shine; 
In a certain playfulness, I could never stop believing 
Because without it, I cannot say the word of my humble line. 
I play with my words so I can help others rise too 
Because nothing's more pleasant than the spark I see in you. 

17.Why Do I See Pessoa?
It rains again, even in Hadrian's heart,
As Pessoa always adored to write in his songs.
I swear, this Portuguese man was a god of his art
Because he could bandage or sever all eyes or tongues.
Although born in Lisbon, he was a native in the matter of Shakespeare,
He also adored Walt Whitman for his openness.
"From Portugal, I salute you, you great homosexual spear",
Says the person as Alvaro to his heart's wholeness.
He was a loner, a figure amongst so many others;
He could take anyone's face without a notice.
A person's just a face like those of children, and fathers
Since few see Ricardo, Bernardo or Alberto before the winter solstice.
So why do I see Pessoa in all of our universe?
Because everything in existence was first his verse.
 
18. The Shape-shifter
Grant me, Apollo, fine ears to listen to the universe's story, 
As well as all curiosity to notice it expanding before my eyes; 
Oh, Artemis, lead the way into the night's silver glory, 
And teach me to see the water growing thicker than some lies. 
Grant me, Loki, the diplomatic gift of your tongue's word, 
And the power of a shape-shifter to enter people's minds; 
Dear Odin, show me every spell of every world, 
But promise me to never differentiate or pick sides. 
Whether Hades or Anubis, old or new, local or foreign, 
Every person has something to learn, and something to tell; 
In equality, there's no point in searching a single sovereign
Since a word is nothing you could buy or sell. 
And so with the help of stories, I became a shape-shifter 
Because it would be too boring not to be a drifter.

19. Life Starts Now
When the door opens, I'll leave without a trace 
Because there's nothing to tie me to a city or another; 
Life starts now, even though I have no brace 
Because now I'm independent, and I no longer bother. 
I'm not being pushed out, I just need some space 
To think, to see everything from a relative distance; 
I can't gather my thoughts, sometimes my mind is a mace 
Which paralyses me with its hits of hesitance. 
Life starts now, so now I'm not told what to do, 
And I can finally write my story on paper or skin; 
It's odd, I can't say I'm not lost or anxious too, 
But I wouldn't turn back, regardless of the virtue or sin. 
Life starts now, and I celebrate with a cup of tea, 
While I hope I won't drown in the deeper sea.  

20. 
The Wind Doesn't Move Me 
When the gates are open, I shouldn't stand in-between 
Because winds blow in all directions possible here; 
This is the strangest, yet most interesting thing I've ever seen 
Because the wind doesn't move me, it's just a sound I hear. 
I stand here, knowing nothing but contradiction 
Because that's what makes the universe a whole; 
I have to admit, discovering as a beginner is now an addiction 
Because nothing is more beautiful than a universal soul. 
This is what happens when you no longer see the others 
More than you see yourself in all the beauty of our world; 
You don't belong to anyone, not even to the sins of the fathers 
Who may have yelled in gibberish or simply a wrong word. 
I hope you find your peace by accepting all along the way: 
Tell your story, and listen to others, but not to all they have to say. 

21. The Algernon-Gordon Effect 
A white mouse with red eyes is now missing an ear, 
And has a long scar he couldn't be threatened to touch; 
But he sees in the rabbit's remaining eye a tear, 
And the mouse rushes to help, although he can't do much. 
Algernon loves his flowers, always coming closer when such beauty is in sight 
Because the scent of lilies often erases his numbness; 
For Charlie, every change of tone is a reason for fright 
Because he knows what happens if they see his dumbness. 
The two still care about each other, as if they were brothers 
Because there's nobody else to tend to such bleeding stitches; 
Such fears sometimes connect the two with others, 
But some other times outsiders won't forgive or see beyond their itches. 
This is what happens when beings become objects in a laboratory 
Or when certain minds only see the numbers of their inventory. 

22. The Greatest Painters 
You looked for happiness like Achilles searched for Patroclus, for his dear; 
You looked for it in the tallest of halls, between the sacks full of grain. 
But you found it the way Achilles did, just after a tear started to sear 
Your flushed cheek, tormented by the barbell of your pain. 
Not to say you deny such crying or the chaos which surrounds you, 
Nobody could delay all reactions until the end of time; 
But give yourself the grace to feel your wholeness, your ugly side too, 
And only after will you find joy in adding a bit more thyme. 
You saw your mate's funeral before singing your favourite song, 
And you were in a hospital for a week, then you met your favourite writers; 
Between falling, and flying, there's a beauty without a tongue 
Helping us become of our destinies the greatest painters. 
There's joy in concerts, but in your morning cup of tea as well, 
But only with curiosity you can find everything, as far as I can tell.  
William Shakespeare: 20 Facts, 37 Plays, 375 Poems, 100 Quotes & Bio 

(source of the image: https://www.williamshakespeare.net/)

joi, 1 august 2024

Sonnets to Sell

 1. As If I Didn't Know What to Look For
I see their faces through a fog, as if I didn't know what to look for
Because voice & body, heart & mind always collide;
The labyrinth of conversion starts before the door 
And could exhaust anyone until they can no longer hide.
Such storms grow stronger and turn into tears of broken glass
When the lightning and thunder finally break free;
Brought together inside the head, they make a terrible fuss
Which often turns into the statue most people see.
And I cannot escape it, I swim in my own fury
Because even that and its tears is better than staying numb;
Still, there is something which I only need to bury,
And that's my futile attempt to control the rhythm of the drum.
It's not pleasant to be stuck between boiling hot, and cold,
But what do I know? I'm only 18 years old.

2. Everyone Plays in a Coordinated Way
I hear the sounds of an orchestra and its instruments 
When everyone plays in a coordinated way;
Still, certain some have a few impediments 
Which when noticed, ruin everyone's day.
Everybody I know was taught to play perfectly,
Instinctively knowing how to avoid mistakes;
Only my piano might never sound so beautifully,
Regardless of the thunder and lightning it takes.
Despite the different rhythm, I can still play,
And pretend to use the sound they are making;
Although anyone can notice the slight delay,
Few will see the keys which are breaking.
Why am I unable to understand a simple word said to me,
Yet I notice different tones others fail to see?

(That's just how my brain works, I guess :))

3.  The Stars Are What You See First 
In an endless universe, the stars are what you see first
As they are the lights guiding hearts of sailors;
Even when a raging storm maintains its outburst,
Polaris or the Southern Cross still shows all the colours.
And so I shimmer brightly, regardless of who decides to follow,
Because their curses no longer ring in my ears;
A hand was always pointing, but usually at where to blow,
And touch the spot which brings all tears.
But now I don't notice or care about it anymore
Because the only way out of the abyss is up;
Although many spots are still bleeding or sore,
Nothing could be more useful than the emptiness of a cup.
Why do I even hear the sound of such an ugly laughter
When my head no longer has the loudest clatter?

4. The Only Path Out of Such a Mess
They smile so brightly it makes me become blind
Because such beauty wins all the necessary gold;
Few will live to see the knife held behind 
Which can subdue anyone whose mind wasn't sold.
They look at me gladly before judging every move,
Treating me as if I was a different species of human;
Why do such people never say what they disapprove,
Except only in seeing brothers as subhuman?
The only path out of such a mess is to stick your head above,
And learn to go forward, to always improve yourself;
Eventually, you'll hold in hands a lovely dove,
Seeing your art as a porcelain figure on a shelf.
They laugh while treating me like a saint
Before throwing stones at the colours I use to paint. 

5. They Read Everything in Solely Binary Words
Between two roads, I won't walk on any
Because they both have holes all the way down;
The means of both are rarely chosen by many
Because the middle way could bring them to drown.
People who choose either road will never know balance
Because they read everything in solely binary words;
Such minds may never know the beautiful noise of silence
Because clutter is rarely able to create worlds.
I'm growing tired of explaining every single colour
To those who only know the extremes of black and white;
Such minds rarely see through scandal and glamour
Or attempt to notice a poet falling from a great height.
I hate the way some people turn out to be 
Because their ears turns deaf and they forget what it's like to see.

6. Like Fire & Rain
Like fire & rain they are around the walls of Troy
Because Patroclus' cold hand prevents Achilles from burning;
It's been like this since the prince was a boy
Because he doesn't wish for the beauty to be turning. 
A mind brings balance to any strong feeling
While the lyre's sound echoes that of a poet;
Now Achilles' eyes from crying start bleeding 
While our hero tears apart all words of my sonnet.
Without Patroclus, the hero's tears turn into violent rage
Because his heart is now glass shards on the ground;
Such power goes beyond any other of his age
Because his cracked, raspy voice makes a terrible sound.
How could he live in a world without his rain,
A world bringing him nothing but pain?

7. About Joseph K. 
Upon waking up one day, Joseph K. found out 
That he was being arrested for some reason;
In protest, he in vain tried to shout 
Because he felt the officers were committing a treason.
Nobody knows what happened or the reason why
K. was sent to a painter and then brought to the court;
He was confused because he saw it was a lie
Constructed by a business set up to cut him short.
But nothing at all seems to be in his favour 
Because everyone is against his innocence;
It is all nothing but such a futile labour,
Which is meant to strip K. of his independence.
The Trial is nothing but a dream of reality,
Albeit one of the highest possible quality.

8. Silent Eyes
Colourful worlds often gather behind silent eyes
Because words fail to exist and create a statement;
It feels like everyone around me is playing dice
Without any kind of confusion or resentment.
Something poisons my head before I try to think
Because I paralyse when I need to talk;
It's not anxiety that's causing me to sink,
But something else that keeps the brain in shock.
I don't always understand all they're speaking
Because I miss cues of eyes, ears or a bloody nose;
Until blood from the skull or heart starts leaking,
Nobody will pay attention to any sign of those.
I find solace where others see disaster
While they know skills I fail to master.

9. In a Distant Graveyard
In a distant graveyard burns brightly a fire
Because poets always choose incineration as their death;
Until the final minute of that day, I still play my lyre
Because nothing's better than the music of a last breath.
Some poets hang themselves or burn in the wood
Because they fail to see the absurd beauty of it all;
I, however, listen to every single mood
Because I fail to see the intense fear of the fall.
All I can do is sing Sisyphus' absurd song,
And embrace the joy of living he teaches me to feel;
For such a simple idea, I've waited too long
Before I could step forward and break my own seal.
The Scythe and its Wings of Lead cannot scare me anymore 
Because nothing about it could ever feel sore.

10.  Why Do So Many Abhor The Smell of Lavender?
An old man passes by and sees a simple kiss,
Which disgusts him down to the core of his heart;
The two men only hear the other starting to hiss
Because he cannot stand the pair's equal art.
"I'm a normal one", a woman tells herself before turning away,
And returning to a man whose liver is about to break;
She will surely hope until the last rainy May
That she made the right choice for her kids' sake.
Why do so many abhor the smell of lavender
When it's equally beautiful as that of roses?
A touch, a smile, a tear can be just as tender,
Despite the horrible crime everyone supposes.
So why fear something just because to you it's unknown?
I'd advise to be more tolerant, show us you're fucking grown!

11. With the Past as a Weapon
With the past as a weapon, many rise to be presidents
Because they say nothing is better than the fatherland;
Such people bring a hell into the lives of many residents
Because they promise diamonds but leave behind only sand.
Such leaders promise to rip out the lavender weed,
Thus throwing salt on all our open wounds;
Yet lavender has everywhere a little seed,
Despite everyone's appetite for endless feuds.
The leaders talk as if Mussolini was being reborn,
And he wanted to march once more against Rome;
With such an attitude, all the progress is torn,
And every light sees its way out of my home.
Where is resistance, hatred cannot foster
Because when the storm rages, blows the Auster.

12. To Maintain Everything Inside
A glass jar tries to maintain everything inside
While the exterior is yelling too much;
Not even when all words start to collide,
Will you see any crack, any leaf falling off the branch.
Yet occasionally the glass will break into 1000 shards
Because of something little like forgetting to feed the cat;
Fuck me, I need to learn to use my useless cards
Because I tend to hide, to turn into a silent bat.
Then such shards cause too much of the bleeding,
Although perfectly hidden behind a white shirt;
Maybe I'll put an end to it just to stop the head's pleading
Or find a way to tend those have been hurt.
Why do I keep breaking such a thick glass
And keep filling it with nothing but gas?

13. The Silence of the Grave
The silence of the grave is disturbed by hail,
Which falls on my head and leaves a few bleeding spots;
Still, in the tempest I try to simply sail,
Even though the blood isn't yet turning to clots.
During such times, nothing really happens any more
Except for those who stitch their wounds alone;
Amongst those, some have cuts fresh and sore
While others walk the world as a mere clone.
Yet impatience is growing with each day passing by
Because everyone seems to be running these days;
In any case, it's nothing but a fat lie,
Which is sold to those who cannot build their ways.
Time stands still as if nothing changes any more
While all the scarred wounds are now sore.

14. Oh, Summer, Dear Summer
While turning my shirts into buckets of sweat all the time;
The love many have for the heat, I cannot even see,
Unless we're talking about butterfly pea and lime.
Oh, summer, dear summer, eternal source of my headache,
You are a scorching season I almost hate I was born in;
Why do you have to forget the darkness before daybreak,
And doom people not to sleep before midnight settles in?
Oh, summer, dear summer, always making my head spin,
And reminding me to read about the joys of snow;
I hope for a storm or just a rain to settle in
As a way to escape the heat's shit show.
Oh, summer, dear summer, why don't you leave me alone,
And give Princess Autumn the chance to take the throne?

15. Hate Way Too Easily
Why do people throw their hate way too easily
When acceptance needs little to no effort at all?
So why look at others and judge too hastily,
Instead of helping them before a long fall?
People look so differently when someone is singled out,
And yell or say words in arrows to pierce a heart;
It's all quiet here, except for the head's loud shout,
Which makes my eyes bleed while my hands tear apart the art.
Why can't we see each other as humans all the same
Who need each other to enjoy the beauty of diversity?
Why do we look at each other only to shift the blame
Or to scream at somebody for showing sensitivity?
We tend to see differences more often than what is common
Because we dismiss the logic of a heart's summon.

16.A Lazy Cat
In the sunlight, you will always see a lazy cat
Who dares not to care about what others do or say;
If you come near him, he may look like a mere mat
Because he becomes a circle under the hot sun of May.
His snow of fur nicely contrasts his blue eyes,
Which brightens up the mood of every single room;
Sitting next to him, you couldn't tell any lies
Because he knows when your eyes show your doom.
Scars or cuts often disappear in his lovely presence
Because he knows where to touch you to feel better;
With him, you'll never see the difference in distance
Between the whole universe, and your quiet shelter.
A cat is needed in every flat or house,
And not only to help you catch a mouse.
 
17. The Sapphic Two 
Silence dawns upon the sapphic two
Who see nothing but the other's pair of eyes;
The green and its confidence pierce through all the blue
Because neither of them could be fooled by lies.
They speak to each other, and it sounds like a foreign song,
Which may bring to others all the great sorrows;
For them, it's nothing but a common mother tongue,
Although words of lead can feel too often as arrows.
They both are full of scars on the body and head
Because not many would accept such a world;
Through the stitches, often the wound had bled
Because such a love rarely gets to say a word.
It is June and all my rooms smell of lavender
Because such a flame comes across as tender.
 
18.A Headache Takes Over the Wire
Upon waking up, a headache takes over the wire,
And the brain fires the alarms without a reason;
But I ignore it by always acting like a liar
While trying to hide my own mind's treason.
Although quieter than usual, I still look calm
Because I'm addicted to hiding scars and slips of tongue;
But a drop touching my skin now fails to feel like a balm,
And everything now sounds like a sorrowful, furious song.
I try to sail endlessly on a too-swollen river
Because a light or sound is enough to cause a flood;
But from the outside, it looks like silence and a shiver,
Even when the inside overflows with blood.
I wear a mask so nobody knows my inside,
And I fear being unable to hide. 

19. A Sword Hangs Above My Head
A sword hangs above my head whenever I try to speak
While all the doubtful looks gather around me;
That's when my head and shoulders often feel sick
Because I hate it when others often fail to see.
I notice colours where others have long lost sight
Although I may sound insane when I bring those up;
My flame of frustration and joy burns so bright
That it might tear all walls apart with a finger snap.
We were taught to hate, to see difference as a threat
Because we didn't notice the human side is the same;
But living feels much better when you don't see it as a bet,
And stop looking for someone to blame.
When you see the world solely through binary glances,
You miss the beauty of all rainbow lenses. 

20.Leo & The Devil
The artist takes the coal and paper in his bare hands
While the little devil bares his chest before his master;
Now time stands still and no man moves to other lands
Because the old painter's hand refuses to move faster.
Salaino sighs again before snoring at the thought of Rome
While da Vinci's awe is aimed at his demigod's body;
Such a love of lavender would be imprisoned by the Dome,
But most stayed silent about the painter's adored somebody.
Cursing Rome and its customs, Leo returns to his art
Because his only muse kept awaiting him;
His eyes brighten while he hears the song of his heart
Because they now see each other despite the sunset's dim
In a painter's way, lavender is often in bloom,
Despite the faiths wishing its doom. 

21. No Way Out
The air is thick and chokes whoever passes by
Because the Vesuvius is about to explode;
Each tongue would feed it, selling nothing but a lie
While the hands threw rocks wherever I strode.
Then it blows up, burning innocent skin
Because burning my eyes with tears is easier than speaking;
I should've had other stitches than those of tin
Because all the lava seems to be now leaking.
And I burn myself too because there is no way out
Of such a mess that still tears my head apart;
In the void, nobody could ever hear a shout,
Regardless of who's dying or losing a heart.
But the Vesuvius explodes, burning Napoli to ashes
While leaving me nearby to mend all the gashes.
 
22. Ultimul examen al liceului
O să dăm și ultimul examen al liceului,
Dar nici că putea să mă doară mai rău în cur;
A dracului a fost lupta lui Heracle și a leului
Pentru că s-a spart asfaltul la cât am căzut de dur.
Vai de capul meu câte măști crăpate am putut vedea
Și la colegi, și la directori, și la restul lumii;
N-o să-mi lipsească tronul pe care profesorul ședea 
Și nici ale colegilor vorbe fără sunet numărate până la mii.
Cât de importanți sunt oare toți elevii, 
Inclusiv cei cu tatuaje sau cicatrici la încheieturi?
În momente dificile, nu din școală afli ce ai să devii,
Ci mai mult de la cei care te ajută să te bendajezi la tăieturi.
Nu regret, dar nici nu mă bucur că termin acum liceul,
Deși pe Icar îl poate doborî plumbul și pe Heracle leul.

23.  At The End of My School Days
I refuse to cry at the end of my school days
Because there isn't much I would miss;
Even in the best, the most beautiful of Mays,
I could still hear the ugly sound of a little hiss.
And why would I miss every single odd look
I too often get while I'm still in the room?
Sure, I have a few friends about whom I could write a book,
Many others cannot look at a painting or a rose in bloom.
Empty speeches and lonely masks fill the hall
When differences in honesty are to be blamed;
On the mind and body, it all takes a great toll,
Leading to a rage in thought which cannot be tamed.
So how can I forget the hissing I hear 
When they are ever-present in all I held dear?

24.  Black Tiger
I have a black tiger always resting on my back,
And it's always draining to carry around;
He's only smaller, it doesn't count as a lack
Because his weight still breaks my bones without a sound. 
He never forgets his pendulum, the future or the past
Because he is the warrior of worries and numbing;
I know his blues, his loneliness, and rage are not meant to last, 
But the yells, the exhaustion, the silence feels deafening.
Still, I'll probably carry the black tiger till the end of my days,
Even when he's heavier and harder to bare;
It's like a taste on my tongue during all bitter-sweet Mays,
One that is often hard to bury or even share.
Most people have such a tiger, albeit a cub or a full-grown beast,
But we all agree we can still enjoy a lovely feast.

25.  Always Burnig Above My Head
The sun is always burning above my head,
And I bloody hope against a migraine or pain all over;
I wish for a storm, wind or just clouds of lead
Because thus season will certainly never be my lover.
If I stay out for too long, I'll most likely melt
Because sweat drenches every shirt I wear;
I'd rather have a walk under Orion's belt
Or simply fly in darkness, albeit without a feather.
Mate, how much I hate all this heat,
And the way it keeps draining me?
If I could move north, I'd do it in a heartbeat,
Had it meant such a weather was a no-see.
I can't stand summer, though I was born in it,
Because it feels like dying under such a heat.

26. The Rabbit's Ears
The rabbit's ears are always aware of everything 
Because no sound or movement remains without a notice;
Here I am, writing and starting to sing
Of every fear of his until the summer solstice.
He is startled by a foreign tone in a familiar voice
Because he always hears the clatter of silver knives;
Explaining stimuli & feelings is much like reading "Ulysses" by Joyce
While the head's clamour is nothing but beehives.
He's attentive, yet fearful of everything around him,
Although he knows the cat means him no harm;
Still, the rabbit's eyes shimmer with all that's grim
Because his mind is too often in a state of alarm.
He runs or freezes when he perceives a threat
Because leaving his place causes most of his sweat.

27.  No Clue What to Write About 
Now I have no clue what to write about 
Because too many ideas are pouring out of my ears;
Still, there's no reason to cry or shout
Because a poem is done over many years.
No need to rush, words aren't going anywhere,
And neither are any pages of that book;
I would take you to a place, but I'm still not there,
Even though I no longer feel every single look.
I guess this might be what I've been missing 
Or rather what I've been missing all this time;
Now I can rarely hear any kind of hissing 
While I'm cooking with all of my thyme.
I still don't know what I'll write about tomorrow,
If I'll write about silence or yet another row.

28. All I Need Today 
A cup of tea is all I need today,
And it tastes better shared with somebody; 
A cup of tea and a close group of friends brighten up this May
Because against loneliness this is a great antibody.
I love to drown in gossip and laughter 
Because I don't switch minds when talking to these people;
Socially, I could never be a grand crafter,
But I always feel better around such gentile people.
I love to share a cup of tea with whoever,
As long as I see the connection is worth it;
Otherwise, talking becomes more exhausting than ever,
And I feel afterwards as if my head had been hit.
So why waste my time with people who act as if I shouldn't exist 
When I could instead nurture the passion which may persist?

29. I Hear Whispers
I hear whispers, voices I've once known
While I still tend to the cuts on my body and mind;
I see you exist in the same way you'd shown, 
With your bright smile of arrogance and the knife you hold behind.
Of course you can bite me, but I don't feel it anymore 
Because I'm too used to such a treatment;
Although some spots will still feel sore,
I will see flowers growing from your torment.
Then you will return to me, more tired than ever, 
Begging for your control and the attention you used to receive;
To be honest, I don't regret I had to sever
Because I learned not to be touched by what you perceive.
I laugh and raise a glass without alcohol to whoever hated me:
I love you, and thank you for helping me focus on what I should truly see! 

30. Hanging By My Neck
Sometimes I see myself hanging by my neck,
Some others I could gauge my own eyes out;
It feels like playing poker with only half a deck
While all you hear is a mute man's shout.
At the border between dissociation and presence, 
My head still cannot make a fucking choice;
My mind is an oblivion of chaos and tranquility in persistence
Because the doubt or depression often has a louder voice.
I know a full mind never serves anyone
Because its emptiness makes the cup useful; 
However, only stars pierce through in the absence of a sun,
And only letters make me feel better when all is dull.
Cheers for the days to come, whatever they may be,
Because that's how I notice what I once failed to see.  

Who was Snorri Sturluson, the great Icelandic author and poet? | The ... 

(source of the image: https://thevikingherald.com/article/who-was-snorri-sturluson-the-great-icelandic-author-and-poet/321)

joi, 16 mai 2024

Sonnets to Scream

 1. A. Todd Anderson
There's a shy poet in every class
Who always recites loudly, if comfortable;
His thoughts and heart could never pass
As anything less than admirable.
He writes until his friend smiles brightly
For he enjoys the words he often hears;
It brings the poet joy, though only slightly, 
Before he feels the eye's fall of glass tears.
The snow weighs on him as a lead boulder
While he cries out a famous, dear name;
It shoots through him like an arrow in the shoulder
And it pains him to know who is to blame.
He always senses every little thing
And the toll each of those could bring.

B. Todd Anderson 
Există câte un poet timid în fiecare clasă 
Care recită cu putere, dacă se simte confortabil;
Dar tot ce altora adesea le pasă 
Este adâncul inimii și gândul său admirabil.
Scrie până când un prieten surâde cu lumină 
Pentru că el adesea adoră ce aude;
Atunci poetul are fericire, deși puțină, 
Înainte de simți a ochilor cascadă de lacrimi surde.
Neaua îi cântarea în spate precum plumbul 
Atunci când striga o dragă, faimoasă denumire;
Îl săgetează și infectează tot mai mult plumbul
Fiindcă deja știe totul despre acea sortire. 
Simte fiecare detaliu, este aproape un tic,
Și vede efectul său, oricât ar fi de mic.

2. Loneliness
I stare at a painting hung on a wall,
The poet gazes out bound with loneliness;
I can only imagine all of his joy and its toll
While a skull filled his eyes with dryness.
I smiled, yet I couldn't feel anything,
Though I'm trapped in a frame, like that poet;
All I have left is to remind myself to sing,
To sing loudly while I write my sonnet.
I am stuck with the scent of lavender,
Under the light of many shimmering stars;
I feel everybody's so bitter tears,
Yet mine often fall silent on Mars.
Sometimes, people read merely from outside,
Forgetting thus, all the keys we always hide.

3. Aristotle Mendoza
He always listens, but rarely speaks
Because he often prefers to wear a mask;
He sees beyond all mimics and tricks,
Although he fears the questions they may ask.
Loneliness was all you could see in his eyes,
Like a black button on a white walll;
All until he met Dante and his absence of lies,
The one who could make him forgt it all.
Dante brought passion to Ari's indifference
And showed him a world of unknown words;
Ari never thought about the difference
Because he couldn't see Dante's swords.
It puzzled him that he was loved dearly,
Although he was rather mute, clearly.
 
4. Dante Quintana
He was often open like the books on his table
Because his fire can burn too brightly;
To read, to learn, to teach, he was often able
Because words aren't a struggle, not slightly.
Looking for a bird, Dante didn't hear Ari's call
And was pushed to avoid being killed by a car;
Broken bones and stitched faces were their fall,
Though Ari could still see his eyes from afar.
At Dante's swollen face, Ari couldn't bare to look
Because the beating could have hurt him too;
Dante would weep for the many hours it took
To return to what for him was true.
They hold each other in a warm embrace
And feel their minds' tempests without a brace.

5. Închis 
Închis într-o sticlă, stă gândul în compania
Unei lacrimi solitare, dar totuși înghețată;
Când se întâlnesc, îmi aduc mania
Și zilele cu mii de vorbe ce se îneacă.
Știu că nu-i ceva sever sau permanent,
Dar acele lungi ore parcă paralizează 
Al tobelor allegro ritm intermitent 
Și închid orice exteriorul stimulează.
Și se adună mereu că într-un glob de sticlă rece
Fiecare gând tăios ce doar rănește;
Uneori, furtuna nu mai trece,
Iar puterea unui fulger doar crește.
Coastele și plămânii aruncă inima la închisoare 
Și-l doboară pe Iar în zborul lui spre soare.

6. Why do certain people care too much?
Why do certain people care too much
About everyone else's sense of fashion?
It's simply the art's tender touch
That brings in the theatre, all the passion.
Some think they see a lavender streak 
In anyone who's out of the ordinary;
Whoever forces the norms to bend and break
It is often seen as a mere circus scenery.
It scares me about it to be thinking 
For it tightens the knot of my tongue;
It will be enough before I start sinking 
And I tear apart the pages of poems, too long.
Is it a mistake to go on a different way?
Will I be stuck in an open cage till the last May?

7. Pens & Words
The pens & words pierce into my throat,
Succeeding in paralysing my tongue;
Still, the two are what keeps me afloat
And what gives me the power to write my song.
I live in worlds I, myself, have created,
Worlds in which I am the god or goddess;
Thanks to my golden sceptre, all has melted 
And caught fire from the ashes, nonetheless.
It is odd to choose the pen instead of a sword 
Because they both carry a mountain's weight;
They can both kill and heal, blade and word, 
Because brutality and tenderness can be the same trait.
Pens and words pierce often into my heart
But they also help me be reborn through my art.

8. Long Hours 
Long hours can seem paralysing
When the lungs quicken, the beat of the drums;
That's what I often catch myself analysing 
In hope of understanding those wasted sums.
It's the eyes that tell all these stories 
About water, singing of joy and sorrow;
That's how you live through grief and glories
And bear all the masks you could borrow.
Yet I stare aimlessly through the empty void
With crystal eyes that have long dried out;
It's a sort of numbness I failed to avoid
Because it stifles each and every shout.
There isn't much that I could think or say
Which could bring me a better or new May.

9. Stomach
A knot in the stomach takes the focus again
Because the head is locked in a jar of glass;
To hide that, I always aimlessly train
So that the clouds don't gather in a mass.
The glass will break and I will gather the shards,
Despite the blood, tears and scars so bitter;
I need to learn to play better with these cards
Or else I'll drink the salty water by the litre.
Oh, knot in the stomach, killing all that's beautiful
And urging the drummer to play much quicker!
It must be a virus way too graceful
Because it only makes me grow sicker.
Why do I write with ease about torment
When I often admire the universe's adornment?
 
10. Heartstone
It's cold outside, even when the sun shines,
But I still adore all about swimming;
I don't cover my head, not even when it rains
Because I'd rather allow myself to be dreaming.
Thor, they call, the short boy they tease
And I always find myself caught in-between;
To take the punches for him, I'd do with ease
Because It's still not the worst I've seen.
I ran into a car with eyes in a waterfall
And some don't seem to see the intention;
My whole being is for beating a call,
So I decided to put an end to the ideation.
Why was I born like this, blond and blue-eyed, 
And didn't realise to whom I had lied?

11. Fernando P.
You still stare at a mirror with broken pieces
And see the shards of yourself, unknown before;
It's nothing but the pain everybody misses
Because we cannot be without the living's bore.
Complex and simple beings by our nature,
We create words and worlds to outlive our years;
How odd is it for a social, lonely creature
To write poems that please many ears?
Álvaro de Campos talks about progress and modernity
In all his endless maritime or triumphal odes;
Ricardo Reis calls upon the gods with an eternity
To which Horace forever proudly nods. 
Man is not an animal, but flesh with a mind,
Although many fit the sort that's ill and kind. 

12. Fears
I want to cry, although I cannot,
Not when those blue, eagle eyes stare down
And spit the fire that trembles every cot
Or burns the skin, lip, ears, and crown.
Eyes swell, scars gather on pale skin
While numbness devours all that's feeling;
Yet laughter wires everything in tin
And keeps my ravens under a glass sealing.
Only a cat can stand the endless tears
That fall on trembling limbs or cuts, so little;
Yet I stand breathless between the fears,
Although they could crush my bones, so brittle.
It all slowly freezes inside the glass bottle,
Yet it's closer to boiling, as if it was in a kettle.
 
13. Language
In this world, nothing could be closer to reality
Than those who too often write or paint;
That's how we embrace the banality
As well as each bruise and every faint.
More than the gods, a pen gives birth to many worlds
And brings music to the silence of the void;
Ideas ring and speak through all the words
That sing of questions we cannot avoid.
Identities and cultures are born from language,
Which gives names to every little universe;
That's how creatures with each other engage
And learn to read and write in the craft of the verse.
The head and heart need to be in such a balance
That others may find in them a menace.

14. Between White Roses
The sun still rises upon the lavender field,
Although many droughts and winters tried to stifle it;
Their masks always hide them behind a shield
And so it's never killed, though it does take a hit.
Lavender can grow anywhere between white roses,
Regardless of weather, rank, or time;
Even when you still see the hooves of horses
Or when its oil is smelt on the hands of a crime.
Achilles adores the bitter-sweet scent of lavender
Because it reminds him of the joy in Patroclus' eyes;
Now tears rain over his cheeks, as if he was another,
While he refuses to sing any of their cruel lies.
Although I feel I'm talking to the windmills,
Lavender still grows on all the past, present and future hills.

15. Orpheus
Sing to me, Orpheus, with the strings of your lyre,
Of every pansy and rose, every eye and ear;
I will write the words, for I still have the fire,
Although partly extinguished by a bitter-sweet tear.
May Apollo and his muses bless my worlds
Because I think I am ready for the life's dance;
Feeling become figures when shown through words
Because otherwise we would be cought in an endless trance.
Yet I still stare aimlessly through the window,
Remembering the embrace of a dear winter;
I already have the colours and the brushes of wilow
Because od Orpheus' generation, I will be the painter.
Before rebirth, something needs burn down;
Before the sun rises again, in needs to set in every town.

16. The Boredom of F.P. 
When I get bored, I begin to write my sonnet
So as to forget the fact that I exist;
That's why I must have a bee in my bonnet,
Since through symbols, I often try to resist.
How many pick up the pen instead of pulling the trigger?
As Virginia Woolf always loved to say;
In this war, I don't know if I could be a Sieger
Or at least to keep the devil of feeling at bay.
It's odd what can be born of boredom,
The worlds we create when we roll our eyes;
Though it can feel much like a martyrdom,
The instincts cannot ever tell lies.
It's strange what non-action adds to the brain,
Although the oxygen through the fire comes to a drain.

17. Februrary 14th
Teddy bears, dyed roses and frozen hearts fill the place
While my stomach knots as if in sickness;
If blood falls, I will not leave a trace
Because above all, conquers the deafness.
Many wear the mety mask of joy
On this moment that's nothing but Thor's day;
They pull the strings as a child plays with a toy
And then cut them before the following May.
Why do I talk when I'm looking through a glass,
Forver observing what I don't feel?
It's all a headache and a weightless masss
Because I carry spade aces made of steel.
I do not feel the void I was warned about,
But the curses will sometimes make me shout.

18. Indifference
The moon itself could fall off the sky
Or the Tiber river could change its course;
For all I care, it could all be a Prussian dye
Or have the salt-and-pepper of a wild horse.
When it comes to faith, the indifference grows
For Christ isn't above Apollo or the dragons of jade;
Each story has golden marbles and circus shows
Because to live for mythology is the oldest trade.
All people are born equal to both of my eyes
For nobody is better or worse than the other;
I abhor all the petty, egotistical lies
Which make of differences such a bother.
Why should I care about when the prime minister sleeps,
Or which politician towards the gallows leaps?
 
19. Acid
We spew acid that burns the other's skin 
By pointing out every little difference;
It gives to many a reason to use nails, clay or tin
To make their living a less painful sentence.
We forget the equality we were born under
Because people fail to see each other as such;
The spine feels as if close to the deafening thunder,
Before the lightning delivers its sweet touch.
Words as spears pierce into sensitive hearts,
Freezing or turning them to little stones;
That's why we cfreate and admire the arts
While forgetting all the yelling and fearful tones.
Why do we look for somebody to take the blame
When we are the ones who make each claim?

20. Earthquake
The ground shakes, all the building catch its song
And begin to dance while losing their bricks;
All the people suddenly speak the same tongue
And forget the world, their masks and tricks.
Glass blinds them and hurts beyond the skin
While everything falls apart under the naked eye;
The rapair is always done only is thin tin,
Although it can lead many to kill or die.
The mind seems to be turning against itself
While thin and long scars appear on the arms;
Each memory is a small glass on the shelf,
Which brings the sound of laughter less than it harms.
The ground trembles and so does the head
Because over a thread continues its tread.

21. Flower of the Bard
Silence dawns upon every great city
When the quiet ones find the courage to speak;
Still, the gods only know to take pity
Or use angainst them a poison and trick.
Those who are mute wear streaks of lavender
Which too often lead to stares, curses or punches;
The scars left by war are rarely tender
While the back in pain, sometimes, hunches.
To stay or to rot, I keep asking a tarot card
While the lavender blooms in one of my rooms;
Poison never stifles this flower of the bard,
Which suffered 10 planets' worth of glooms.
To leave or to die in a sweet misery,
All before I cover myself in the grave's mystery.
 
22. To Artemis and Athena
Afrodite sings, while you hear the sound of the lyre,
Of love unbound in golden or rusty chains;
To Artemis and Athena, it is nothing but endless tire
For enamoured lives are to them a bane.
Artemis runs the wilderness with the moon by her side
While the huntresses follow her into the darkness;
Outside, inside, nobody has anything to hide
Because her way leads out of any harness.
Athena knows the words of philosophy and poetry
For the wise owl is always her proud guide;
The head's matters require a masterful deity
Because learning involves someone close by our side.
So the two live in th ewonder of maidenhood
In their tight, merely aromantic sisterhood.
 
23. Winter 
The sun sinks to the depth of frozen rivers
When everything falls under the deepest sleep;
While snow and ice give other the shivers,
I sit underneath and count the mind's sheep.
The winter freezes the tears when they fall
And the frost on windows paints the glass;
Meditating, you see the heart's silent call
And start to stitch all of your wounds in brass.
Nothing and everything changes in the contradiction of men
Because many thoughts put us in the middle;
In one head, can exist at least other ten
And to understand them is the life of Sphinx's riddle.
Winter can be a riddle you fail to understand,
Though all you have to do is observe, not see, to comprehend.

24. 18th Of August 
In an endless universe, storms gather first
Inside the silent head without a tongue;
Joyous sadness keeps its forward burst
Before the blood starts pouring for too long.
I don't know how to feel, so I simply act,
Before disappearing and turning into a mute;
I wish I knew how to work it out or react
Without being put in the most tight suit.
I'm not even 20 while I'm losing my own name
Amongst the louder ones of all other poets;
Although not a single day feels the same,
I still find myself quietly writing my sonnets.
I feel the world's endless warmth and cold,
But I know so little, though I'm not yet 20 years old.

25. Look Directly 
I fail to look directly and see people's eyes,
So I only notice shirts, freckles, and moods;
Bodies are often unable to tell lies,
As you can see such laughter or will to hang in the woods.
Eyes, ears, and mouths always greet the outside
With empty politeness and masked words;
When somebody has a total of nothing to hide,
They are seen as the destroyer of others' worlds.
Why is it hard to look towards the present 
Devoid of judgement and defensive ideas?
Why do so many look back or forward and resent 
The progress or lack of it in little Korea?
I see, but often solely with my ears
Because nothing deceives what the mind hears.

26. Întuneric 
Privesc adânc și lung în eternul întuneric 
Și nu reușesc să înțeleg teama de influența lui;
El transformă orice râs, orice plâns isteric 
Într-o amintire ce bate în minte un cui.
E adevărat că te poate lăsa fără voce și respirație 
Fiindcă adesea sparge globul tău de sticlă rece;
Dar te obligă să simți ce ai putea să iei în considerație 
Și să-ți vezi renașterea după ce uraganul trece.
E bine să cunoști și întunericul și lumina,
Să nu le știi în alt mod decât complementare;
Numai așa poți vedea frumosul de pe colina 
Pe care Sisif împinge continuu piatra de sare.
N-am teamă de ceva ce nu cunosc bine
Fiindcă adevăratul răspuns vine din sine.

27. Brave New Worlds
I stare outside the open window and hear
A few words, among which counts my name;
The voice is unknown, yet very sharp and dear
Because it calls to mind a distant flame.
A portrait almost foreign to me
Reveals a future that rarely forgets words;
It is something I look forward to live and see
Beacuse ideas can create brave new worlds.
Thus I fly higher and even catch a cloud
Before falling to break my bones on the ground;
A sharp voice keeps calling me with its loud
And intense, yet calm, and careful sound.
The gods want me to sing while writing my sonnet
So as to have fewer chances of losing my bonnet.

28. The Reason of Feeling 
Nothing bothers me anymore these days
Since the head turned off all that's feeling;
I've only been wondering through an endless maze
In the futile attempt to break its sealing.
The reason of feeling brings the worst pain
And forces the head to bloody tear itself apart;
From this game, I have nothing to gain,
Aside from ruining all sides of my art.
Words and ideas can equally heal and kill
Because they work in different ways for each;
I hope this time I will not easily fall ill
Or try to poison myself with a rotten peach.
I try to swim against a swollen river
Because I refuse to drown in such a shiver.

29. Stained Glass 
He paints a stained glass and doesn't show his progress
Beacuse his own colours tint those he uses;
He fears the storms may bring such a mess
That he might fail to see what he chooses.
For disobedience, he was yelled once more
While being hit for speaking his mind aloud;
A spot in his heart is growing so sore
That it overflows any rainbow or dark cloud.
He now doesn't feel so much anymore,
Which sometimes brings tears to his eyes;
He still feels those scars without their gore
And can still notice if he's being fed lies.
Nothing saddens him or brings a distant joy
Because a small gesture can even kill such a boy.

30. Our Generation 
Our generation was born and died 1000 times
While thrown into the dust all alone;
The air no longer smells of blooming limes
Or ideas about whoever owns the throne.
Worthless, lazy or much too sensitive
Are names that still ring in our ears,
And it doesn't help that we're still creative
Because it feeds endlessly into many fears.
Still, I try to look above and see the stars,
Although I have no clue what tomorrow will bring;
I refuse to let my mind be locked behind bars
For I still have my quiet wish to sing.
I salute the lovely minds of our generation 
For they will highlight every artist's creation.

31. Labyrinth 
To interact can be a labyrinth for me
Because I fail to understand their cues;
I know the language, yet I cannot see
The link between words and silent clues.
I am aware of every gesture I show
Because I know how some may react to it;
In such moments, I feel like I am a crow
Who often by most pigeons is hit.
Yet I bury it like the corpse of a friend 
Who died long before finding his peace;
I fear the noose might soon bring my end
Because I can no longer stand such a hiss.
Why is the brain wired in such a way
That I cannot see February changing into May?

32. Sounds Like Treason
People often stare and I cannot return the look
Because I usually notice only the colour of the eye;
Everybody seems to interact according to a book
Without which, they slowly start to die.
I do see things others don't for some reason
Such as the slight difference in manner or tone;
But to say this aloud sounds like treason
Because it cuts people close to every little bone.
The brain is wired against itself and it often feels
As lonely as a wolf who was quietly exiled;
They say as time passes it always heals,
But it leaves the wounds open, however mild.
I'm used to being a sort of a different breed
Only because my mind follows another creed.

33. Abyss
This abyss of mine seems to be endless now
And I tried everything to find a way out;
I ended up here, but I don't know how
Nor do I see the rhyme to write about. 
The void can be equally consuming and feeding
Because not even fire has the courage to exist here;
To get out, there is no universal leading,
Not even a memory of something dear.
Yet you rise and often touch the sun
Like Icarus with his ideals and wax wings;
Only you never cared for what had been done
And only want to write what Apollo sings.
The abyss can be both sadness and joy
Because your own mind becomes a toy.

34. I craft my mask so as people cannot see
I craft my mask so as people cannot see
All the intensity and tears which lie inside;
To navigate the universe, I become a bee
Whose joy or sting of frustration has to hide.
And it works because few dare to break the glass
To discover a truth that's not sung about;
It sometimes makes the sound of a great fuss,
Although it's too low to sound like a shout.
It is draining, but often reduces the isolation 
And calms the nerves activated in a social setting;
It can feel like belonging to a different nation
When every single interaction becomes a betting.
In crowds, why do I even bother to fit
When I know I'll be the one who takes the hit?

35. Dense Fog Inside My Mind
What is it that burns too often my head
And leaves the most dense fog inside my mind?
I sometimes feel through me the arrows of lead
Or the claws reaching for my shoulders from behind.
Is the ice on my spine or endless fear
The one seeming to conquer the rhythm of my drum?
Either way, it comes along with a tear
And the infinite spectrum of being numb.
Inside, outside, it is all the same
Because everything works in similar ways;
I forgot who could or should take the blame
Because I'm used to losing my mind, most of the days.
It kills me to think and feel at the same time,
But it becomes tiresome to have to play the mime.

36. People are curious to feel everything around 
People are curious to feel everything around
Because nobody rules better than an impulse;
In my ears it never quite makes a sound
Because I don't wish for whatever quickens that pulse.
Some go as far as missing their flight
For the blood and poison adorning a rose;
Seeing this leaves me in a state of fright
Because many get out with worse than a broken nose.
Many lose dreams, tongues, ears and eyes
For someone they saw as the one and only;
In agony such a heart too often dies
Or is endlessly consumed by sorrow, solely.
There's a glass between me and such intense feelings 
Beacuse when the head rules, the heart has 7 sealings.

37. Too Quiet or Too Loud 
I sit in silence, usually buried amongst people
Beacuse the shadow is cast always by the light;
The night is dark and fright is triple 
Because I'm again stuck between freeze and flight.
I try to speak my mind, but it's either too quiet or too loud
For anyone to even notice its existence;
I often lose my head in such an indifferent crowd 
Or they cut it upon forgetting all their patience.
Both sides crave the sweet poison of the other
Before falling apart, as if crushed by a hurricane;
The storm brings brings silent, violent tears to one another
While the heads are left with every single blame and bane.
Isolation and lack of it destroy all the same
While leading to madness in every kind of frame.

38. Snow & Rain
It snows heavily all throughout spring,
And its weight bends and breaks many a shoulder;
But in my ears, such a threat doesn't ring
Nor does it signal me a muscle ready to falter.
I do enjoy everything about its peaceful presence 
Because it calms down the turmoil of summer;
Against my head's clamour, it returns the patience
And slows down the allegro rhythm of the drummer.
I fail to understand why so many hate snow & rain
As they extinguish the fire we all carry;
Few can walk along with the burden of pain
Before they quietly choose which one to bury.
There is nothing that bothers me anymore,
Although some spots still feel too sore.

39. The Deafening Silence 
A bottle is all you can see in an empty room
As well as the deafening silence filling it;
It's nothing but a strong scent of doom
Before the thick glass will take its final hit.
The bottle always gathers the strongest feeling
Which tries to spill your guts on every table;
Head & heart slowly become nothing but a sealing,
Preventing you from seeing your feet as stable.
And it goes on and on until the glass bottles break
Or intensity overflows the brain of a ghost;
Now eyes show the pressure they cannot take
While your body becomes to such a play a mere host.
Numbness can hurt as much as vulnerability 
Because it forces the mind to lose an important ability.

40. Books as a Crown
Books will feel like a crown on your head
When you see everything expanding before your eyes;
Even long after your tongue has bled,
You will still be able to read between their lies.
Before yourself, everything will open in absurdity
And all the darkness will suddenly make sense;
That's how nature will show you its dignity
And its beautiful particles will become dense.
By walking in light, you will be able to find darkness 
And see the beauty hidden between all its lines;
Now you observe each season and its shortness,
Water & fire, head & heart, rises & declines.
The mind is crowned by the study's beauty,
But to recognise this is everybody's duty.

41. All Cuts & Wounds 
All cuts & wounds have at least a little stitch
Which helps the body reduce the bleeding;
Still, when all these begin to irritatingly itch,
I catch myself counting red drops, onwards leading.
I hate how much my skin feels tight
While the stitches gather mountains of salt;
When I pick them, my body is locked in freeze or flight
While both head & heart are put on a halt.
And so my head keeps spinning aimlessly, 
Before it quieted every slow movement of the tongue;
Minutes, hours, days, carry out this curse helplessly
While I write, listen to, and sing this bitter song.
It feels like a computer malfunctioning up there,
But I have no clue how much of it I can bare.

42. My Mind's Labour 
My mind's labour guides the eyes to see ahead
The sight, hearing and taste of too many;
But long after my own tongue has bled,
I can no longer fathom the words of any.
The cogs spin, day & night, in & out,
Although they are wired in an odd manner;
Regardless of how loud or quiet is the shout,
It could never reveal the blood of the banner.
Although the stones keep gathering around me,
I try to keep my head above, to swim & float;
Beyond that, not many people can see
Or try to help, to build and offer a boat.
Lucky those who never had nor ever will feel this misery;
From outside, they see nothing but a circus scenery.

43. All Empires Must Fall
When the ground shakes, all empires must fall
To make way for the new world which settles in;
Although old ghosts still make a crying call,
The newborns won't repeat the same drowning sin.
And thus, a new light suddenly pierces the ground 
To teach the beauty of colour to those who see only black & white;
For some ears, it might be too sharp of a sound,
Despite the pleasure they take in the unusual sight.
Instead of carrying the old flag and its blame,
The youth prefers to makes one without a thorn;
Such minds cannot, will not be the same
As those before who could throw anything in scorn.
We may be born just too early or too late,
But we still learn to accept what you used to hate.

44. Houses Built in a Distinct Way
Each world has houses built in a distinct way
Because different ideas come from all places;
When those collide, it is curses some would say
Before seeing the other along similar traces.
Still, some buildings seem oddly designed 
Because the architect wanted to show off his skill;
Such houses are often demolished or simply fined
Because such a presence makes everyone ill.
And so brains are wired without fitting in
A world, a place, a language of wonder;
Such brains drown themselves in water or gin
Because every interaction is as exhausting as plunder.
How can we grow to embrace difference 
When we only know the taste of indifference?

45. Ari & Dante
Dante's hands calmly caress Ari's scars and skin
While he feels his face to be as fragile as porcelain;
Dante cries when he remembers Ari's broken shin
And feels as though such a mind couldn't be sane.
Likewise, Ari couldn't bare to look at Dante's swollen face
Because he doesn't understand why the boys did it;
Of blood, his fists still have an awful trace
Because the challenger didn't expect to also be hit.
With all the scars and fears, they stare at a shimmering star
Which guides them through the universe, both dark and light;
It feels immense when seen from the pickup of Ari's car,
So much so that each of them discovers a reason to fight.
Neither tears nor blood can tear them apart
Because the way they feel represents their art.

46. Nothing Happens Anymore 
Nothing happens anymore when eyes become mute
While intense feelings drown in endless numbness;
Still, my mind forces a smile to fit the suit
Because nothing could feel worse than eternal deafness.
The heart still sings, though as a player in a band,
Even when the legs and hands start to paralyse;
In my eyes, there's nothing other than glass and sand
Because when the storm begins, few take the time to analyse.
Every second, minute, hour, day, it doesn't end,
Regardless of whoever is the nameless, silent speaker;
My head keeps firing signals nobody should send
Because nothing can hurt more than being an overthinker.
It never stops, no matter how hard I try,
And this can stop Icarus from his attempt to fly.

47. Aimless Ways & Moods
Many throw stones in aimless ways and moods
Because they dislike to hear what is different;
With knives at cows' throats and burning woods,
Questions about disappearance become frequent.
They all hear the stifled, yet loud cry,
But choose to stay silent, to play blind;
Everything, everywhere is nothing but a lie
Which builds a golden crown from behind.
And people forget superiority doesn't exist,
Not even when talking about a silent voice;
Not matter who you are, bird, man or beast,
Your quiet tone can change a fellow's choice.
Why choose to be cruel in a world that suffers enough already, 
When you can improve the matters, slow & steady?

48. May 5th
This very day, the kitchen's scent makes me sick
Because they all just repeat the same tiresome words;
I'd say it would feel better if I was stung by a tick
Because an old frustration is revealed in such worlds.
People spew acid to burn down opposing tongues,
Especially on Easter day, when rejection is obvious;
But gods forbid you dare sing your pagan songs
Because of roots, most are too oblivious.
Why should I choose a day to prove whatever 
When every single one can be a testament to gratitude?
That's why I prefer a different road, although I have to sever
Everything coming to such a pompous magnitude.
I couldn't care less of all they do or say
When most of them act like parrots every day.

49. Endless Building Block
I stand on the roof of my endless building block
And look down to see what happens if I fall;
If I hit my back on the asphalt, if my end is a shock
Or a source of misery for those who don't hear the call.
But I won't, although I have both wax wings,
Which may one day serve as feathers in a colourful plumage;
Heart and mind join in whatever each sings
While consumed by joy, by tears, by rage.
I risk losing my breath or voice in senseless arguing
Because something obvious to me is hidden from another;
Instead I sit quietly in a darkness that keeps swallowing 
Every moment until sound becomes a bother.
I wonder if I should jump or attempt to fly
Because I hear the noise made by every lie.

50. As If Ideas Were Different Countries 
People feel as if ideas were different countries 
Which need to be defended, regardless of the cost;
They sometimes fail to respect certain boundaries,
Even though a comrade admitted they lost.
Like rams hitting each other until horns break,
Stubborn people continue a dead conversation;
No success will exist until the ground starts to shake
Or the ram receives a crown, a bright evaluation.
I never know enough, but I can always know more,
Although Aries, Taurus, will never know perspective;
With them, don't argue until your throat's sore
And allow each partaker to be brightly creative.
If mind is a neighbourhood which anyone can paint differently,
I choose to expand mine, albeit silently. 

The Book of Disquiet (1982) by Fernando Pessoa | Lesson quotes life ... 
(source of the image: pinterest)

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