Poets' Corner

Andrés de Jesús María y José Bello López (1781-1865) was a Venezuelan-born poet, humanist, legislator, philosopher, educator and philologist, whose political and literary works constitute an important part of Spanish American culture. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Andrés Bello, engraved and printed by Institut de Gravure, Paris, and issued by Ecuador on April 21, 1948, Scott No. 488, plus an image of a painted portrait of the poet by French artist Raymond Monvoisin (1790–1870), and an English translation of Bello's poem Rubia ("Blonde").

- nethryk



Blonde

Do you know, blonde, what favor I solicit
When I cover the altars with offerings?
Not rich furnishings, not superb lands,
Neither a table that flatters the appetite.

At the edge of Aragua I want a parcel
To supply me with simple pleasures,
And close to my rustic home
A brook that runs among the rocks.

To feel good around the summery warmth,
I also want my plot to have a grove,
Where the proud coconut and the willow can grow.

I'll be happy if in this refuge I die;
And, upon exhaling my fugitive breath,
I stamp on your lips my last goodbye!

- Andrés Bello

Happy Birthday to Frána Šrámek (1877-1952), a Czech vitalist poet, novelist, playwright, impressionist and anarchist. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Šrámek, designed by Czech artist Max Švabinský (1873-1962), engraved by Jindra Schmidt, and issued by Czechoslovakia on June 23, 1956, Scott No. 758, plus a photographic portrait of the poet in 1926, plus a YouTube video link to a documentary film (in Czech) about Frána Šrámek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKSonz3n26c

- nethryk

Vincas Mykolaitis, known by his pen name Putinas (1893-1967), was a Lithuanian poet and writer, and also a priest, although he renounced his priesthood in 1935. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Mykolaitis-Putinas, designed by Lithuanian artist Aušrele Ratkeviciene, printed by lithography, and issued by Lithuania on March 13, 1993 to commemorate the centenary of the poet's birth, Scott No. 448, plus an an image of a photo of Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas, and a translation of his poem Two Suns.

- nethryk



Two Suns

At one time,
When at heart I bore
The brightly flaming sun of youth,
That other sun,
Which up in heaven blazes
And separates the day from night
By streams of warmth and light,
I scorned!

Today though,
When my heart is dark and cold
And barely I tell night from day,
Towards the blazing sun on high
I raise my arms and pray:

"O you whose generous warmth and light
I see in every grain of life,
Give me again
Your warmth and light
So that my heart may burn and seethe
As long before,
So that I may forget
The chill of night,
The gloom of night once more!"

The sun replied:
"If you do not possess
A sun that is your very own,
I shall but waste my warmth and light,
Your heart shall blunder
Nonetheless
In shades of night."

- Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas

Translated by Lionginas Pažusis

Julio Arboleda Pombo (1817-1862) was a Colombian poet, journalist and politician whose poems are highly regarded in Spanish-American literature. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Julio Arboleda, designed by T.N. Molina, printed by lithography (De La Rue de Colombia), and issued by Colombia on March 9, 1966, Scott No. 754, plus an image of the original portrait of the poet which served as a model for this stamp's design, and Arboleda's poem Yo vi del rojo sol...., along with my own poor attempt at a free verse translation of this poem (bilingual Spanish-speaking SCF members are heartily encouraged to offer corrections as needed!)

- nethryk



Yo vi del rojo sol...

Yo vi del rojo sol la luz serena
turbarse y que en un punto desaparece
su alegre faz, y en torno se oscurece
el cielo, con tiniebla de horror llena.

El Austro proceloso airado suena,
crece su furia, y la tormenta crece,
y en los hombros de Atlante se estremece
el alto Olimpo, y con espanto truena.

Mas luego vi romperse el negro velo
deshecho en agua, y a su luz primera
restituirse alegre el claro día.

Y de nuevo esplendor ornado el cielo
miré, y dije: ¿Quién sabe si le espera
igual mudanza a la fortuna mía?

- Julio Arboleda Pombo

I saw the red sun...

I saw the red sun's serene light
troubled and at one point its brilliant face
disappeared and the sky darkened,
with a darkness full of horror.

The stormy South winds sound angry,
their anger grows, and the storm grows,
and the shoulders of Atlas shudder
high Olympus, with a dreadful thunderclap.

But then I saw the black veil
of rain part, and by the previous light
the brilliant and clear day was restored.

And again I looked upon the sky's ornate splendor,
and I said "Who knows if I should expect an equal
change in my fortune?"

Masaoka Shiki (pen-name of Masaoka Noboru, 1867-1902) was a Japanese poet, author, and literary critic in Meiji period Japan who is regarded as a major figure in the development of modern haiku poetry. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Masaoka Shiki, combined engraved and photogravure, and issued by Japan on November 5, 2002 to commemorate the centenary of the poet's death, plus a photo of a stone monument to Masaoka Shiki located in front of Matsuyama Station, Ehime Prefecture, an English translation of Shiki's haiku poem which is inscribed upon it, and a translation of one of my own favorite Shiki haiku.

- nethryk



Come spring as of old
When such revenues of rice
Braced this castle town!

- Masaoka Shiki

From watching the Moon
I turned and my friendly old
Shadow led me home.

- Masaoka Shiki

Happy Birthday to Sílvio Vasconcelos da Silveira Ramos Romero (1851-1914), a Brazilian "Condorist" poet, essayist, literary critic, professor, journalist, historian and politician. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Sílvio Romero, printed by lithography, and issued by Brazil on April 21, 1951 to commemorate his birth centenary, plus a photo of the poet. Perhaps a Portuguese-speaking SCF member would be kind enough to provide an English translation of one of Sílvio Romero's poems? One thing I was able to find online about him was this kind of creepy YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1YxYhiOQNg

- nethryk

Happy Birthday to Mokichi Saito (1882-1953), a Japanese poet of the Taisho period, a member of the Araragi school of tanka, and a psychiatrist. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Saito, combined engraved and photogravure, and issued by Japan on November 4, 2003 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death, Scott No. 2868, plus a photograph of the poet, and a translation of the first few lines from Mokichi Saito's tanka poem "Mother Dies."

- nethryk



From Mother Dies (Part 1)

Broad leaves turn themselves on the trees, gleaming, hiding, never restful

As the drooping flowers of white wisteria fall, it touches me the way their pods now begin to show

Mother far down the road -- to have a look, to have a look at her life I simply hurry

In the sun-shining capital, at night, looking at the redness of lights my heart does not settle down

As I hurry to have a look at my mother's eyes, sweat comes out on my brow

The way I go out of the capital where lamps are red -- will people think I'm going on a casual trip?

- Mokichi Saito

Happy Birthday to Antoine Meyer (1801-1857), a Luxembourg-born mathematician and poet who later adopted Belgian nationality, and who is best remembered for publishing the first-ever book in Luxembourgish, a collection of six poems entitled E' Schrek ob de' Lezeburger Parnassus ("A Step up the Luxembourg Parnassus," 1929). Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Antoine Meyer, designed and engraved by Eugène Lacaque, and issued by Luxembourg on April 30, 1979 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Meyer's book, Scott No. 637, plus an image of the cover of the first edition of E' Schrek.

- nethryk

Agnes Miegel (1879-1964) was a German poet, author, and journalist best known for her poems and short stories about East Prussia, but also for her support of, and membership in, the Nazi Party. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Miegel, designed by German graphic artist Elisabeth von Janota-Bzowski (1912-2012), printed by photogravure, and issued by Germany on February 14, 1979 to commemorate the poet's birth centenary, Scott No. 1287, Michel No. 1001, plus an image of a monument to Agnes Miegel in Bad Nenndorf, and a translation of Miegel's poem Frühherbst ("Early Autumn"). Bonus: Signature.

- nethryk



Early Autumn

With crimson barberries adorned, stands dashing
the Autumn at the stubbled ground,
in clearer air the silver threads are flashing
and gold and purple in the world abound.

I'm looking out where autumn winds are soughing,
through vines that touch my window with a sigh,
far, far away I hear the Baltic laughing
and singing my last rose a lullaby.

A red, ripe apple from the tree descended,
a tardy butterfly above it sways -
I sense how this year's grief has ended
and how my quiet silence stays.

- Agnes Miegel
Translated by by Walter A. Aue

Here are images of the two stamps in a set honoring outstanding Japanese poets of the waka form - an ancient poetic form consisting of five lines with a total of 31 syllables, printed by lithography, and issued by Japan on September 1, 2005, Scott Nos. 2924 & 2935, plus English translations of examples of their work.

- nethryk

Ono no Komachi (c. 825 – c. 900) was one of the Rokkasen (the six best waka poets of the early Heian period), who was also renowned for her beauty.


The flower colors
wilted and faded away
while I meaninglessly
existed in this world
as the long lasting rain continued.

- Ono no Komachi

Fujiwara no Teika (1162-1241) was a poet, an influential critic, and an anthologist of the late Heian and early Kamakura periods.


Another year gone by
And still no spring warms my heart,
It's nothing to me
But now I am accustomed
To stare at the sky at dawn.

- Fujiwara no Teika

Konstantin Miladinov (1830-1862) was a Bulgarian poet and folklorist from the region of Macedonia. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of the poet, printed by typography (letterpress), and issued by Bulgaria on May 12, 1929, Scott No. 214, plus an image of a picture postcard with a portrait of Konstantin Miladinov which was the model for this stamp's design, and an English translation of his most famous poem, T'ga za jug ("Longing for the South"). Note the inaccurate birth year (1832) for the poet indicated on the postcard!

- nethryk




Longing for the South

If I had an eagle's wings
I would rise and fly on them
To our shores, to our own parts,
To See Stambol, to see Kukus,
And to watch the sunrise: is it
dim there too, as it is here?

If the sun still rises dimly,
If it meets me there as here,
I'll prepare for further travels,
I shall flee to other shores
Where the sunrise greets me brightly
And the sky is sewn with the stars.

It is dark here, dark surrounds me,
Dark covers all the earth,
Here are frost and snow and ashes,
Blizzards and harsh winds abound,
Fogs all around, the earth is ice,
And in the breast are cold, dark thoughts.

No, I cannot stay here, no;
I cannot sit upon this frost.
Give me wings and I will don them;
I will fly to our own shores,
Go once more to our own places,
Go to Ohrid and to Struga.

There the sunrise warms the soul,
The sun gets bright in mountain woods:
Yonder gifts in great profusion
Richly spread by nature's power.
See the clear lake stretching white-
Or bluely darkened by the wind,
Look at the plains or mountains:
Beauty everywhere divine.

To pipe there to my heart's content.
Ah! Let the sun set, let me die.

- Konstantin Miladinov

Happy Birthday to Amado Nervo (1870-1919), a Mexican poet, journalist, diplomat and educator. Nervo's poetry is noted for its use of metaphor and references to mysticism, love and religion. Here is an image of a stamp reproducing a painted portrait of Nervo, printed by photogravure, and issued by Mexico on August 7, 1971 to commemorate the poet's birth centenary, Scott No. 1033, plus a photo of Amado Nervo, and a translation of his poem En Paz ("At Peace").

- nethryk



At Peace

Very near my setting sun, I bless you, Life
because you never gave me neither unfilled hope
nor unfair work, nor undeserved sorrow/pain.

Because I see at the end of my rough way
that I was the architect of my own destiny
and if I extracted the sweetness or the bitterness of things
it was because I put the sweetness or the bitterness in them
when I planted rose bushes I always harvested roses.

...Certainly, winter is going to follow my youth
But you didn't tell me that May was eternal
I found without a doubt long my nights of pain
But you didn't promise me only good nights
And in exchange I had some peaceful ones.

I loved, I was loved, the sun caressed my face

Life, you owe me nothing, Life, we are at peace!

- Amado Nervo

Happy Birthday to Ivan Yakovych Franko (1856-1916), a Ukrainian poet, writer, social and literary critic, journalist, interpreter, economist, political activist, doctor of philosophy, and ethnographer. Here is an image of an engraved stamp featuring a portrait of Franko, issued by Russia (USSR) on December 26, 1956 as one of a set of three stamps designed by Russian artists Ivan Ivanovich Dubasov and Vasili Vasilievich Zavialov to commemorate the poet's birth centenary, Scott No. 1896, Zagorski No. 1839, plus a photograph of Ivan Franko in 1898, and an English translation of the first three stanzas of his most famous poem, Kamenyari ("Stonebreakers"), published in 1878.

- nethryk



From Stonebreakers

I had a strange vision. Before me seemed to stretch
A measureless waste, a savage open plain;
And I a fettered captive, chained both hand and foot,
Was standing at the base of a high granite cliff,
And with me other thousands, captives like myself.

The brow of every one was seamed by lines of pain,
But in each eye there glowed a sacrificial flame.
The fetters held each one in serpent-like embrace,
And every back was bowed, each face bent toward the earth,
For all seemed weighted down beneath a heavy load.

Each one held tightly gripped a mighty iron sledge,
And suddenly from the sky a voice like thunder came:
"Break though this granite wall! Let neither heat nor cold
Your efforts stay! In spite of hunger, toil and thirst,
Slack not, for yours it is to cleave this rock in twain."

- Ivan Franko

Happy Birthday to German Romantic poet Eduard Friedrich Mörike (1804-1875)! Here is an image of a stamp honoring Mörike, designed by German artist Günter Jacki (1936- ), combined engraved by Egon Falz and lithography, and issued by Germany on May 15, 1975 to commemorate the centenary of the poet's death, Scott No. 1166, Michel No. 842, plus a photo of Eduard Mörike, and an English translation of his poem Septembermorgen. Bonus: Signature.

- nethryk




September Morning

In fog the world is still at rest
The woods and fields dream on:
Soon you will see, when the veil falls,
The blue heaven in all its splendor,
And a misty world in bold autumn colors
Flowing forth in molten gold.

- Eduard Mörike
Translation by Charles L. Cingolani

Happy Birthday to Russian poet Ivan Savvich Nikitin (1825-1861), who is perhaps best known for his realistic poems about lives of the poor. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of the poet, designed by B. Trifonov, printed by photogravure, and issued by Russia (USSR) on December 11, 1974, Scott No. 4274, Zagorski No. 4363, plus an image of the formal portrait of Ivan Nikitin which was the model for this stamp's design, and an English translation of Nikitin's poem In A Peasant Hut. Note: I have read that Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) greatly admired Ivan Nikitin's poetry.

- nethryk



In A Peasant Hut

Sultry dampness--pine chips smoking,
Off-scourings a span length,
In the corners webs of spiders,
Smut on dish and bench.

Sooty black the bare wall, crock stained,
Water--dry hard bread;
Groanings, coughings, children's whimper,
Wretched bitter need!

And a beggar's death for years of
Harshest drudgery--
Learn to put your trust in God here,
And to patient be.

- Ivan Savvich Nikitin