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My favourite poem is 'Der Panther' by Rainer Maria Rilke - so here the English translation:


The Panther

His gaze, going past those bars, has got so misted
with tiredness, it can take in nothing more.
He feels as though a thousand bars existed,
and no more world beyond them than before.

Those supply powerful paddings, turning there
in tiniest of circles, well might be
the dance of forces round a center where
some mighty will stands paralyticly.

Just now and then the pupils' noiseless shutter
is lifted. - Then an image will indart,
down through the limbs' intensive stillness flutter,
and end its being in the heart.



Original (German)

Der Panther

Im Jardin des Plantes, Paris

Sein Blick ist vom Vorübergehn der Stäbe
so müd geworden, dass er nichts mehr hält.
Ihm ist, als ob es tausend Stäbe gäbe
und hinter tausend Stäben keine Welt.

Der weiche Gang geschmeidig starker Schritte,
der sich im allerkleinsten Kreise dreht,
ist wie ein Tanz von Kraft um eine Mitte,
in der betäubt ein großer Wille steht.

Nur manchmal schiebt der Vorhang der Pupille
sich lautlos auf -. Dann geht ein Bild hinein,
geht durch der Glieder angespannte Stille -
und hört im Herzen auf zu sein.

Rainer Maria Rilke, 6.11.1902, Paris

Thank you for beutiful poems.
I want to show you my favorite ones too.. I really love it and leave the book of poetry that load it on my desk always.

Prologue
Yoon Dongju

May I look up into the heavens until the day I die
without a bit of shame.
From even the wind rustling the leaves
I have suffered.
With the singing heart of the stars
I shall love all that is to die.
And the road given me
I shall walk.

Tonight also, the stars are touched by the wind.
(from. 'Peeking out Yoon Dongju's poetry and life')



(Original)

Both of your poems are so insightful... thanks for sharing! We should have started this thread earlier... haha

Quoted from "arianne_nl"

If you know some nice ones (or written by yourself)

pick one!

Do epics also count? haha
Really have to think if I confronted poems lately. Not that I'm aware of... So I couldn't give the answer just yet

Unless you can count epics; then The Odyssey would be a fav (won't bother you by posting it btw )

"If I don't love her, then who I will love?"

I couldn't have an answer
if I can find someone like her?

I tried to look around
I compared each girl I met with her
But, i got the same answer

I never found someone like her, she was so special

I wasn’t the only who figured that, which made me jealous

I had a feeling, convincing me, that I have all rights to be jealous!
Anyone knew her, would feel the same!

Sometimes I would wish to put her inside my cage
But, in this case, would she understand my reason?

Such the Emperor and his Sparrow

If the Sparrow felt, why was it inside the cage?
If the Sparrow thought, because of emperor's love, it was inside the cage
could the Sparrow understand that?

Honestly, I don't think so!
The Sparrow might love the Emperor; but, it would need for its freedom!

As I trust in my Sparrow, I am ready to be a different Emperor
I will open the cage
I will let her flying everywhere

As, if my Sparrow loves me, she will comeback

Each time I think about this question, I look over there and wondering

Which Sparrow there is mine?
Which Sparrow there I love?

Till now I didn’t find her yet
But,i am not worry
She will comeback again as she used to


I have a request,
When you see my Sparrow, don’t stare!
I still have all rights to be jealous!

Quoted from "arianne_nl"

@Samir: about the sparrow

new edition

Quoted from "arianne_nl"

@Samir: new times, new editions. But this one is very appropriate Still love your poems! And a weak spot for the Emperor of Arab

I know u prefer this more!
Thanks,
lol .. okok, i will edit it!

There are some really nice poems here. I guess I'll throw two of my favorites into the fold, both written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

The Flower

Once in a golden hour
I cast to earth a seed.
Up there came a flower,
The people said, a weed.

To and fro they went
Thro' my garden bower,
And muttering discontent
Cursed me and my flower.

Then it grew so tall
It wore a crown of light,
But thieves from o'er the wall
Stole the seed by night.

Sow'd it far and wide
By every town and tower,
Till all the people cried,
"Splendid is the flower!"

Read my little fable:
He that runs may read.
Most can raise the flowers now,
For all have got the seed.

And some are pretty enough,
And some are poor indeed;
And now again the people
Call it but a weed.


A Farewell

Flow down, cold rivulet, to the sea,
Thy tribute wave deliver:
No more by thee my steps shall be,
For ever and for ever.

Flow, softly flow, by lawn and lea,
A rivulet then a river:
Nowhere by thee my steps shall be
For ever and for ever.

But here will sigh thine alder tree
And here thine aspen shiver;
And here by thee will hum the bee,
For ever and for ever.

A thousand suns will stream on thee,
A thousand moons will quiver;
But not by thee my steps shall be,
For ever and for ever.

I like the moral of the first one and the last one carries personal meaning to me. I hope I didn't kill the mood.

I love most things written by Robert Browning, but my favorite poem is by Robert Frost.