Hotel

My room’s shaped like a cage,
The sun puts his arm right through the window.
But I who wish to smoke and dream
Use it to light my cigarette.
I don’t want to work – I want to smoke.

– Apollinaire

Submitted by:
Malvika, who says “Here’s a beautiful one. Wish I could write like that!”

Postscript:
You can hear the poem being read out here.
You can read more about Apollinaire here, here, and here.
You can read more poems by him here, and about concrete poetry here and here.

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Published:
June 25, 2012 – 08:00
Author:
By Madhu
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Extinguish my Eyes

Extinguish my eyes, I’ll go on seeing you.
Seal my ears, I’ll go on hearing you.
And without feet I can make my way to you,
without a mouth I can swear your name.

Break off my arms, I’ll take hold of you
with my heart as with a hand.
Stop my heart, and my brain will start to beat.
And if you consume my brain with fire,
I’ll feel you burn in every drop of my blood.”

― Rainer Maria Rilke

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Published:
June 24, 2012 – 08:00
Author:
By Madhu
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Intimations of Mortality

On being told by the dentist that this will be over soon

Indeed, it will soon be over, I shall be done
With the querulous drill, the forceps, the clove-smelling cotton.
I can go forth into fresher air, into sun,
This narrow anguish forgotten.

In twenty minutes or forty or half an hour,
I shall be easy, and proud of my hard-got gold,
But your apple of comfort is eaten by worms, and sour.
Your consolation is cold.

This will not last, and the day will be pleasant after.
I’ll dine tonight with a witty and favorite friend.
No doubt tomorrow I shall rinse my mouth with laughter.
And also that will end.

The handful of time that I am charily granted
Will likewise pass, to oblivion duly apprenticed.
Summer will blossom and autumn be faintly enchanted.
Then time for the grave, or the dentist.

Because you are shrewd, my man, and your hand is clever,
You must not believe your words have a charm to spell me.
There was never a half of an hour that lasted forever.
Be quiet. You need not tell me.

– Phyllis McGinley

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Published:
June 23, 2012 – 08:00
Author:
By Madhu
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None