Short Poems

Our English host was gracious
We were soon at ease;
Or almost:
The servants
were watching.

[From: Poems; Publisher: Nissim Ezekiel, Mumbai, 1966]

Children astray to their mothers, and goats to the herd,
Sheep to the shepherd, through twilight the wings of the bird,
All things that morning has scattered with fingers of gold,
All things thou bringest, O Evening! at last to the fold.

Even with insects--
some can sing,
some can't.


Translated by Robert Hass

Even when we sleep we watch over each other
And this love heavier than a lake’s ripe fruit
Without laughter or tears lasts forever
One day after another one night after us.

Even that old horse
is something to see this
snow-covered morning

Even on the smallest islands,
they are tilling the fields,
skylarks singing.


Translated by Robert Hass

Et Sildehoved i Mørket laa
og fryded med Glandsen nogle Smaa.
Ej, raabte de, hvilket prægtigt Skin!
Saa bar de det Hoved i Stuen ind,
men ved de flammende Kjerter dér
det lyse Hoved ej lyste mér.

Tag den hele Verden fra os
giv os evig Nat til Ly
jeg er Eros, du er Chaos,
Verden hæver sig paany.

Jo reenere Korn, jo striere Halm.
Jo klingere Liud, jo haardere Malm.
Jo fædere Melk, jo rammere Ost.
Jo hvidere Snee, jo koldere Frost.
Jo klarere Vand, jo dybere Søe.
Jo glattere Hud, jo stoltere Møe.

Et deiligt Sommerliv — det regner og det blæser!
Et prægtigt Mandomsliv — jeg tegner og jeg læser.