M Christine Delea's Blog

A Word on Statistics by Wislawa Szymborska, Translated by Joanna Trzeciak

A Word on Statistics by Wislawa Szymborska, Translated by Joanna Trzeciak Out of every hundred people those who always know better: fifty-two. Unsure of every step: almost all the rest. Ready to help, if it doesn't take long: forty-nine. Always good, because they cannot be otherwise: four—well, maybe five. Able to admire without envy: eighteen. Led to error by youth (which passes): sixty, plus or minus. Those not to be messed with: forty and four. Living in constant fear of someone or...

Motor Lodge by John Drury

Motor Lodge             by John Drury   “So this is it, experience,” I thought, lugging tin buckets from the ice machines to rooms of...

In Defence of Adultery by Julia Copus

In Defence of Adultery by Julia Copus We don't fall in love: it rises through us the way that certain music does-- whether a symphony or...

The Way It Ended by Gail White

The Way It Ended by Gail White So time went by and they were middle-aged, 
which seemed a cruel joke that time had played 
 on two young...

Cherishing What Isn't by Jack Gilbert

Cherishing What Isn't by Jack Gilbert Ah, you three women whom I have loved in this long life, along with the few others. And the four I...

It's no use by Sappho, translated by Mary Barnard

It's no use by Sappho, translated by Mary Barnard It's no use Mother dear, I can't finish my weaving You may blame...

In Memoriam, July 19, 1914 by Anna Akhmatova, translated by Stephen Edgar

In Memoriam, July 19, 1914 by Anna Akhmatova, translated by Stephen Edgar We aged a hundred years and this descended In just one hour,...

Adam Abecedarian by Susan Vespoli

Adam Abecedarian by Susan Vespoli Adam has become a                c l o u d   dances biblical excerpts       feet and toes   going ...

I Am the Burning Woman by JC Reilly

I Am the Burning Woman by JC Reilly   come to set aflame the seagrasses  on the shore old stumps and driftwood     a rowboat tethered   ...

The Junior High School Band Concert by David Wagoner

The Junior High School Band Concert by David Wagoner When our semi-conductor Raised his baton, we sat there Gaping at Marche Militaire,...