February: After Storm, Breaking Trail

(click on photo to enlarge)

"many hearts feel more comfortable with your rain -- time of winter -- your wind you with your cold clear stars promise not more than you love" This week, an image of trail breaking after a heavy snow storm, together with a new translation of a Dutch ode to winter.

Aan de Winter O wintertijd zo schaars bezongen waarin de straten nat of koud waarin de sneeuw het groen bedwongen de bloemen in hun knoppen houdt niet kent gij -- wintertijd -- de vreugden de droefheid die het voorjaar heeft maar naakt en sober zijn uw deugden en niet meer hebt gij dan gij geeft wat doet ons -- wintertijd -- soms zuchten wanneer -- zo rijk -- de lente komt misschien dat wij uw afscheid duchten of dat uw naaktheid zich vermomt bij vele harten passen beter uw regen -- wintertijd -- uw wind gij met uw koude klare sterren belooft niet meer dan gij bemint           Jan Hanlo  (1912-1969)

To Winter O time of winter so scarcely sung when streets are wet or cold when the snow has driven away the green and holds blossoms in their buds you do not know -- time of winter -- the joy the sadness which comes with spring but plain and naked are your virtues and you have not more than you have what makes us -- time of winter -- sigh when -- so rich -- the spring comes perhaps that we dread your departure or that you disguise your nakedness many hearts feel more comfortable with your rain -- time of winter -- your wind you with your cold clear stars promise not more than you love                            (tr. Cliff Crego)

(1) Sharp Wind, Ski Tracks, Spring Snow
(2) Twenty Snowy Mountains
(3) Rising Sun, Setting Moon
(4) Snow Circles
(5) Ovid and No Trespassing
(6) Mountain Farmer with Six Milk Cows
(7) Red Ribbons in Snow Storm
(8) Two Lights, Fresh Snow

See also: new

"Straight roads, Slow rivers, Deep clay."

A collection of contemporary Dutch poetry in English translation, with commentary and photographs by Cliff Crego

See also another website by Cliff Crego: The Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke

A presentation of 80 of the best poems of Rilke in both German and new English translations: biography, links, posters