Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Beers & Books CCLVXXX – John Hume

Difference is of the essence of humanity.
Difference is an accident of birth and should therefore
never be the source of hatred or conflict.
The answer to difference is to respect it.
Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace:
respect for diversity.

John Hume (18 January 1937 – 3 August 2020)

Monday, January 16, 2023

Mo(o)nday Poetry

Dice la tarde:
"Tengo sed de sombra!"
Dice la luna: "Yo, sed de luceros."
[...]
Says the afternoon:
"I'm thirsty for shadow!"
Says the moon: "I want stars."

Yo tengo sed de aromas y de risas.
Sed de cantares nuevos
Sin lunas y sin lirios,
Y sin amores muertos.
*
I'm thirsty for scents and for laughter.
Thirsty for new songs
Without moons and without lilies,
And without dead loves.


 

Excerpt of Federico García Lorca's poem Cantos nuevo / New songs

Federico García Lorca (5 June 1898 – 19 August 1936)

Sunday, January 15, 2023

 Nâzım Hikmet had a dream

Yaşamak bir ağaç gibi tek ve hür
ve bir orman gibi kardeşçesine,
bu hasret bizim.

To live like a tree and at liberty
and brotherly like the trees of a forest,
this yearning is ours.


Nâzım Hikmet (15 January 1902 – 3 June 1963)

Sunday, January 08, 2023

Saturday, January 07, 2023

Beers & Books CCLXVII – Mankell: The White Lioness

The White Lioness*

Henning Mankell (3 February 1948 – 5 October 2015)

* Unlike the German synopsis of this excellent political thriller the English one is suboptimal, to put it politely. F.e., the Broederbond is not about to orchestrate the murder of de Klerk but of Mandela. 

Beers & Books CCLXVI – Alexander Kielland

A great piece of literature
obviously ignored by English publishers.

Alexander L. Kielland
(18 February 1849 – 6 April 1906)