acronimous   Junior Editor

The Man of Double Deed

There was a man of double deed, Who sowed his garden full of seed; When the seed began to grow, 'Twas like a garden full of snow; When the snow began to melt, 'Twas like a ship without a belt; When the ship began to sail, 'Twas like a bird without...

– by Anonymous

A Heavy Apple

A heavy apple draws a full branch down with summer, so it will know where to fall, an open hand grows up from the ground. Like so, my soul, you bow ever lower, dumber, loaded heavy with juice and time and fermenting beams of light. You are also a...

– by Abraham Sutzkever

I’m Thankful That We’re Both Alive at the Same Time…

I’m thankful that we’re both alive at the same time, for if the chasm of an instant were to separate us, a moan would divide both joy and hope with a knife and both hearts would not beat in my lines. I’m thankful that we’re both alive on the same...

– by Abraham Sutzkever

And This Is the Ballad of My Life

And this is the ballad of my life: dipping bread in salt at a banquet for my unseen guests from afar. And when they are hailed on by clod of earth after clod of earth, to meet them between long tree-lined streets once more. And this is the ballad...

– by Abraham Sutzkever

Butterfly

What lovely aftermath is painted in your dust. You were led through the flaming core of the earth, through its stony shell, webs of farewell in the transient measure. Butterfly blessed night of all beings! The weights of life and death sink down ...

– by Nelly Sachs