NPM: Granditer Ultimo

April is a promise that May is bound to keep.
~Hal Borland

Happy Poetry Friday! We have a bounty of dual language poems to finish up (Inter)national Poetry Month.

But first, don't forget this is your last chance to sign up to send a poem and receive a poem (or two, three, four, or five) during the summer! Email me to sign up or ask questions.

A GRAND FINALE!

A Scottish Gaelic blessing by Jone Rush MacCulloch:

fàilte air a ‘ghrian
cho dearg ri crom-lus
fàilte air a ‘ghealach
cho geal ri trì-bhileach
fàilte air na reultan
uiread ri gràinnean gainmhich
fàilte a chur air a’ mhuir
cho farsaing ris Sgrìob Chlann Uisnich
fàilte air an talmah
marmor anns a’ cruinne-cè
fàilte sìochaint

Welcome the sun
as red as a poppy
Welcome the moon
as white as bogbean
Welcome the stars
as many as grains of sand
Welcome the sea
as wide as the Milky Way
Welcome the earth
a floating marble in the universe
Welcome peacefulness

*************

A French/English poem by Ruth Hersey:

Explanation/Explication

Je me souviens du jour où
tu m’as expliqué
qu’elle n’était plus mon amie.
“Tu vois comment elle te traite?”
tu as demandé.

Est-ce que tu es toujours mon ami?
Et sinon,
qui va me l’expliquer?
Encore une fois
je suis la dernière à savoir.

I remember the day
you explained to me
that she wasn’t my friend any more.
“Do you see how she treats you?”
you asked.

Are you still my friend?
And if not,
who will explain it to me?
Once again
I am the last to know.

*************

A French/English haiku by Christie Wyman:

deux oiseaux se perchent en paix
une éternité de sources
dans un monde flottant

two birds perch in peace
an eternity of springs
in a floating world

*************

Tanita Davis shared this poem by Maxine Rose Munro, who writes poetry in both English and Shetlandic Scots:

Laernin

Hirplin piano notts clim ta me,
win up da bannisters
ta whaar a’m dippit wi a book o poetry.
I listen ta pellet twiggins o rhythm
an soonds. Ivvery rin trowe
gits mair richt, mootie fingers finnin
touch an speed jöst whaar hit’s waantit.
Peerie-wyes a sang is wirkit
oot fae hooro, pattren fae stramash.
Da mester, plaised, picks anidder melody
fir her ta try. I apply mesel eence mair
ta me poetry, bit I winder
if a’ll geng me wye as aesy as shö.

Learning

Limping piano notes climb to me,
wind up the bannisters
to where I sit with a book of poetry.
I listen to ragged understandings of rhythm
and sounds. Every run through
gets more right, tiny fingers finding
touch and speed just where it’s wanted.
Softly a song is formed
out of noise, pattern from chaos.
The tutor, pleased, picks another melody
for her to try. I apply myself once more
to my poetry, but I wonder
if I’ll go my way as easily as she.

*************

A French/English haiku by Michelle Kogan:

échapper à la dispersion
donnez-vous des moments de
imagination

escape from scatter
give yourself moments of
imagination

© 2021 Michelle Kogan

*************

Jone Rush MacCulloch:

aig èrigh na gealaich
teintean a' lasadh aig an tràigh
bidh sinn a' seinn òrain

at moonrise
fires ignite on the beach
we sing songs

*************

Soup for Two
by Janet Clare Fagal

You brought the pot,
I added love,
chicken, stock.
We set the clock,
next carrots, corn,
onions. Warmed.
Simmered, spiced,
tomatoes sliced.
Dinner with you.
Twice as nice!

Minestra per due
Translated by Mr. LaTulippe

La pentola la porti tu,
Io aggiungo l’amore,
il pollo, del brood.
Poi impostiamo l'ora,
ecco a seguire carote, granturco,
cipolle. Fuoco acceso.
Cotto a fuoco lento e speziato.
Qualche pomodoro a fettine.
Cenetta con te.
Il piacere raddoppia.

*************

Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Matt!