By Fergus Cullen Gide in 1893 Today marks seventy years since the death of André Gide. What follows is a translation—the first into English, it seems—of the twelfth of his “Lettres à Angèle,” published irregularly in L’Hermitage between 1898 and 1900, and collected in Prétextes (Paris: Mercure de France, 1919): see pp. 166–82. The titular … Continue reading André Gide – On Nietzsche: Letter to Angèle
Author: shanedevine96
Locating the Edge
By Hayden Church "The Builders (House Wreckers in June)" by Charles E. Burchfield, 1931 A beatitudeundivined instatutes & laws.But that is all dogs do.A heeler, His palm:someone is Godfor the next two thousand years.I will read The Gospels withoutwaiting for the time to come,when on a crackling paththe New Word will hail down& arrange the … Continue reading Locating the Edge
Remy de Gourmont – Steps Upon the Sand
Translated by Fergus Cullen Les Pas sur le sable (Paris: Société Littéraire de France, 1919), like many of de Gourmont’s works, was published posthumously under the supervision of his brother, Jean. The booklet runs to only 61 pages, and is ornamented with woodcuts by Alexandre Noll. Here we catch de Gourmont in a variety of … Continue reading Remy de Gourmont – Steps Upon the Sand
crack an dawn
By Christian Mack "December Storm" by Charles Ephraim Burchfield, 1941-1960 —and, fed-up, the sun walks outand i knew that he wouldn’t be coming back,this time. I soaked my hair inphosphorous and piss and iodine,gathered felled and dead leavesand the other chaff we keepgraveside; i tore down the shedand buried the shovels, i chokedthe birds and planted their … Continue reading crack an dawn
A Taste for Imperfection: Selections from Remy de Gourmont
Translated by Fergus Cullen "Clair de lune" by Félix Vallotton, c. 1895 If beauty promises happiness, it is always imperfection that keeps the promise. Le Pas sur le sable (Paris, 1919), p. 19. Note Remy de Gourmont rose to prominence as a Symboliste poet, and to preeminence as a critic. He is rarely called a … Continue reading A Taste for Imperfection: Selections from Remy de Gourmont
The Art of Hunting
By Hayden Church "Still Life with Dead Game" by Willem van Aelst, 1661 Across the cattailled pond, clouds overcastLily pad the darling ocean glass sky,Hawkish portent becoming reborn inAubergine-specked shimmering nightfall.The hunting Bloodhound perceives the mallard’s grace,Spectacular array of mottled downRavaged viciously for the act’s beauty,Taming the fowl for morningtide’s glee.Blood-soil cotton sprouts oppugned perfectly—Chance … Continue reading The Art of Hunting
Three Odes and a Lament
By Phillip Blank "View of Toledo" by El Greco, 1599-1600 I - Ode To The Wind Look how her golden curls are tossed like salad leavesIn the evening breeze,How those thick folds flutter and danceTo smells from bakery and lake. The tree tops rustle kind-lily,Bushy heads twittering to easy hush;Welcomed in the heat of summer’s day. Airless rooms … Continue reading Three Odes and a Lament
The Wheels
By Liam Holbrook "Dynamism of a Car" by Luigi Russolo, 1913 Flashing colors echo, break sound,And taste like the infinite sky!An expanding-all-ways wave where colorFuses the one with the other; whereIncestuously they bind themselves to movementWhen the sound breaks airAs wheels turn gentlyOn the asphalt seared.As movement breaks under momentum's gainAll bends, all bleeds and … Continue reading The Wheels
The Suitor’s Sonnet
By Stephanie Yue Duhem "A Man and a Woman by a Well" by G. D. Calland, 1848 When, into the fountain, I pitch my dimeTo sink beside yearnings silver and brown,The great amours of some forgotten time—Even yesterday’s love, all settled down,I think, is it not tragically trueThat metal outlives the passions of men,Or that … Continue reading The Suitor’s Sonnet
Songs in the Grass
By Hayden Church "Lake Suwa in Shinano Province" by Katsushika Hokusai, c. 1830-1832 Daring countryside,Poking snake headsEntombed in weeds—Orchids surviving still,Placid and historic.And even the chicksAre out now, dancingTo a song in the grassThat says, I hear God.Pondside insects hiddenBy volumes of rainingPetals of leaves to beRaked by the followingBreeze into the rippling,Humming body—A fish, … Continue reading Songs in the Grass
