The Storm
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) Now here, now there, the wild waves sweep, Whilst we, betwixt them o’er the deep, In shatter’d tempest-beaten bark, With laboring ropes are onward driven, The billows dashing o’er our dark Upheaved deck–in tatters riven Our sails–whose yawning rents between The raging sea and […]
The State
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) What constitutes a State? Not high-raised battlement, or labored mound, Thick wall or moated gate; Not cities fair, with spires and turrets crown’d; No:–Men, high-minded men, With powers as far above dull brutes endued In forest, brake or den, As beasts excel cold rocks […]
The Poor Fisherman
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) The fisher Diotimus had, at sea And shore, the same abode of poverty– His trusty boat;–and when his days were spent, Therein self-rowed to ruthless Dis he went; For that, which did through life his woes beguile, Supplied the old man with a funeral […]
The Palace
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) From roof to roof the spacious palace halls Glitter with war’s array; With burnished metal clad, the lofty walls Beam like the bright noonday. There white-plumed helmets hang from many a nail, Above, in threatening row; Steel-garnished tunics and broad coats of mail Spread […]
Storm
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) Now here, now there, the wild waves sweep, Whilst we, betwixt them o’er the deep, In shatter’d tempest-beaten bark, With laboring ropes are onward driven, The billows dashing o’er our dark Upheaved deck–in tatters riven Our sails–whose yawning rents between The raging sea and […]
Poor Fisherman
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) The fisher Diotimus had, at sea And shore, the same abode of poverty– His trusty boat;–and when his days were spent, Therein self-rowed to ruthless Dis he went; For that, which did through life his woes beguile, Supplied the old man with a funeral […]
Invitation
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) Why wait we for the torches’ lights? Now let us drink while day invites. In mighty flagons hither bring The deep-red blood of many a vine, That we may largely quaff, and sing The praises of the god of wine, The son of Jove […]
A Banquet Song
A poem by Alcaeus of Mytilene (c. 625/620 – c. 580 BC) The rain of Zeus descends, and from high heaven A storm is driven: And on the running water-brooks the cold Lays icy hold; Then up: beat down the winter; make the fire Blaze high and higher; Mix wine as sweet as honey of the […]
The Vision Of Cassandra
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) CASSANDRA Phoebus Apollo! CHORUS Hark! The lips at last unlocking. CASSANDRA Phoebus! Phoebus! CHORUS Well, what of Phoebus, maiden? though a name ‘Tis but disparagement to call upon In misery. CASSANDRA Apollo! Apollo! Again! Oh, the burning arrow through the brain! Phoebus […]
The Sacrifice Of Iphigenia
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Now long and long from wintry Strymon blew The weary, hungry, anchor-straining blasts, The winds that wandering seamen dearly rue, Nor spared the cables worn and groaning masts; And, lingering on, in indolent delay, Slow wasted all the strength of Greece away. […]
The Lament Of The Old Nurse
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) NURSE Our mistress bids me with all speed to call Aegisthus to the strangers, that he come And hear more clearly, as a man from man, This newly brought report. Before her slaves, Under set eyes of melancholy cast, She hid her […]
The Defiance Of Eteocles
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) MESSENGER Now at the Seventh Gate the seventh chief, Thy proper mother’s son, I will announce, What fortune for this city, for himself, With curses he invoketh:–on the walls Ascending, heralded as king, to stand, With paeans for their capture; then with […]
The Decree Of Athena
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Hear ye my statute, men of Attica– Ye who of bloodshed judge this primal cause; Yea, and in future age shall Aegeus’s host Revere this court of jurors. This the hill Of Ares, seat of Amazons, their tent, What time ‘gainst Theseus, […]
The Complaint Of Prometheus
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) PROMETHEUS (alone) O holy Aether, and swift-winged Winds, And River-wells, and laughter innumerous Of yon Sea-waves! Earth, mother of us all, And all-viewing cyclic Sun, I cry on you,– Behold me a god, what I endure from gods! Behold, with throe on throe, […]
The Beacon Fires
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) A GLEAM – a gleam – from Ida’s height, By the Fire-god sent, it came; From watch to watch it leapt, that light, As a rider rode the flame! It shot through the startled sky, And the torch of that blazing glory […]
The Battle Of Salamis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) The night was passing, and the Grecian host By no means sought to issue forth unseen. But when indeed the day with her white steeds Held all the earth, resplendent to behold, First from the Greeks the loud-resounding din Of song triumphant […]
Song Of The Furies
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Up and lead the dance of Fate! Lift the song that mortals hate! Tell what rights are ours on earth, Over all of human birth. Swift of foot to avenge are we! He whose hands are clean and pure, Naught our wrath to […]
Prometheus Amid Hurricane And Earthquake
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Earth is rocking in space! And the thunders crash up with a roar upon roar, And the eddying lightnings flash fire in my face, And the whirlwinds are whirling the dust round and round- And the blasts of the winds universal leap […]
Prayer Artemis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) STROPHE IV Though Zeus plan all things right, Yet is his heart’s desire full hard to trace; Nathless in every place Brightly it gleameth, e’en in darkest night, Fraught with black fate to man’s speech-gifted race. ANTISTROPHE IV Steadfast, ne’er thrown in […]
Lament Two Brothers Slain Each Other039s Hand
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Now do our eyes behold The tidings which were told: Twin fallen kings, twin perished hopes to mourn, The slayer, the slain, The entangled doom forlorn And ruinous end of twain. Say, is not sorrow, is not sorrow’s sum On home and […]
Lament For The Two Brothers Slain By Each Others Hand
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) Now do our eyes behold The tidings which were told: Twin fallen kings, twin perished hopes to mourn, The slayer, the slain, The entangled doom forlorn And ruinous end of twain. Say, is not sorrow, is not sorrow’s sum On home and […]
Fragment From Aeschylus
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) The man who rightly acts without coercion Will not be grieved, can never wholly sink in wretchedness; While the lawless criminal is forcibly dragged under In the current of time when from the shattered mast The elements rip down his sails. He […]
Complaint Prometheus
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) PROMETHEUS (alone) O holy Aether, and swift-winged Winds, And River-wells, and laughter innumerous Of yon Sea-waves! Earth, mother of us all, And all-viewing cyclic Sun, I cry on you,– Behold me a god, what I endure from gods! Behold, with throe on throe, […]
Battle Salamis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) The night was passing, and the Grecian host By no means sought to issue forth unseen. But when indeed the day with her white steeds Held all the earth, resplendent to behold, First from the Greeks the loud-resounding din Of song triumphant […]
A Prayer For Artemis
A poem by Aeschylus (c. 525 – c. 456 Before Christ ) STROPHE IV Though Zeus plan all things right, Yet is his heart’s desire full hard to trace; Nathless in every place Brightly it gleameth, e’en in darkest night, Fraught with black fate to man’s speech-gifted race. ANTISTROPHE IV Steadfast, ne’er thrown in […]
You Personify God’s Message by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
You personify God’s message. You reflect the King’s face. There is nothing in the universe that you are not Everything you want, look for it within yourself- you are that. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of […]
Who Says Words With My Mouth? by Rumi
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing? I have no idea. My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that, and I intend to end up there. This drunkenness began in some other tavern. When I get back around to that place, I’ll be completely sober. Meanwhile, I’m like […]
Who is at my door? by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
He said, “Who is at my door?” I said, “Your humble servant.” He said, “What business do you have?” I said, “To greet you, 0 Lord.” He said, “How long will you journey on?” I said, “Until you stop me.” He said, “How long will you boil in the fire?” I said, “Until I am […]
When I am asleep and crumbling in the tomb by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
When I am asleep and crumbling in the tomb, should you come to visit me, I will come forth with speed. You are for me the blast of the trumpet and the resurrection, so what shall I do? Dead or living, wherever you are, there am I. Without your lip I am a frozen and […]
What Hidden Sweetness Is There by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
217 What hidden sweetness there is in this emptiness of the belly! Man is surely like a lute, no more and no less; For if, for instance, the belly of the lute becomes full, no lament high or low will arise from that full lute. If your brain and belly are on fire through fasting, […]
Weary not of us, for we are very beautiful by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
Weary not of us, for we are very beautiful; it is out of very jealousy and proper pride that we entered the veil. On the day when we cast of the body’s veil from the soul, you will see that we are the envy of despair of man and the Polestars. Wash your face and […]
We Are As The Flute by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
We are as the flute, and the music in us is from thee; we are as the mountain and the echo in us is from thee. We are as pieces of chess engaged in victory and defeat: our victory and defeat is from thee, O thou whose qualities are comely! Who are we, O Thou […]
Until You’ve Found Pain by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
Until you’ve found pain, you won’t reach the cure Until you’ve given up life, you won’t unite with the supreme soul Until you’ve found fire inside yourself, like the Friend, You won’t reach the spring of life, like Khezr. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic […]
Two Kinds of Intelligence by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
There are two kinds of intelligence: one acquired, as a child in school memorizes facts and concepts from books and from what the teacher says, collecting information from the traditional sciences as well as from the new sciences. With such intelligence you rise in the world. You get ranked ahead or behind others in regard […]
At the Twilight by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
At the twilight, a moon appeared in the sky; Then it landed on earth to look at me. Like a hawk stealing a bird at the time of prey; That moon stole me and rushed back into the sky. I looked at myself, I did not see me anymore; For in that moon, my body […]
This is Love by Rumi
to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First, to let go of live. In the end, to take a step without feet; to regard this world as invisible, and to disregard what appears to be the self. Heart, I said, what a gift it has been to enter this circle of lovers, to […]
This Will Not Win Him by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
Reason says, I will win him with my eloquence. Love says, I will win him with my silence. Soul says, How can I ever win him When all I have is already his? He does not want, he does not worry, He does not seek a sublime state of euphoria – How then can I […]
This we Have Now by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
This we have now is not imagination. This is not grief or joy. Not a judging state, or an elation, or sadness. Those come and go. This is the presence that doesn’t. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate […]
This is Love by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First, to let go of live. In the end, to take a step without feet; to regard this world as invisible, and to disregard what appears to be the self. Heart, I said, what a gift it […]
This Aloneness by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
This aloneness is worth more than a thousand lives. This freedom is worth more than all the lands on earth. To be one with the truth for just a moment, Is worth more than the world and life itself. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic […]