verba

Words

Sylvia Plath (1932-63)

(My Latin)
Words
Axes After whose stroke the wood rings, And the echoes! Echoes traveling Off from the center like horses. The sap Wells like tears, like the Water striving To re-establish its mirror Over the rock That drops and turns, A white skull, Eaten by weedy greens. Years later I Encounter them on the road- Words dry and riderless, The indefatigable hoof-taps. While From the bottom of the pool, fixed stars Govern a life.
verba
ictibus admotae resonat dum silva securis, sicut equi voces medio removentur ab axe. qualiter insurgunt lacrimae, sic succus adortus, qualiter enituntur aquae reparare remissum in saxo speculum, volvuntur quippe caduntque, haud aliter, caput exanimis quod glabrius albet ignotique hominis, quo gramen inutile pascit. anni praeteriere; obeunt mihi in aggere cursus arida verba eadem, neque adest eques ullus; eundem ungula dat crepitum assidue, dum sidera ab imo immota implacata gubernant gurgite vitam.

Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès

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