I skipped a day
Apr. 17th, 2007 09:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
browngirlSo today, two poems.
I don't know why I hadn't posted this one before. As the child of immigrants and a New Yorker, it means a lot to me.
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
~Emma Lazarus, 1883
I was going to read this into a voice post, but I've had a cold all weekend and my voice isn't at my best. OTOH, I can post more of it; I was only going to read 10-15 lines, since I haven't figured out how to lj-cut the transcription of a voice post.
from Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, Scene 2
Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,
Towards Phoebus' lodging: such a wagoner (3.2.2)
As Phaëthon would whip you to the west,
And bring in cloudy night immediately. (3.2.4)
Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night,
That runaways' eyes may wink and Romeo
Leap to these arms, untalk'd of and unseen. (3.2.7)
Lovers can see to do their amorous rites
By their own beauties; or, if love be blind, (3.2.9)
It best agrees with night. Come, civil night, (3.2.10)
Thou sober-suited matron, all in black,
And learn me how to lose a winning match,
Play'd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods. (3.2.13)
Hood my unmann'd blood, bating in my cheeks,
With thy black mantle, till strange love, grown bold,
Think true love acted simple modesty. (3.2.16)
Come, night, come, Romeo, come, thou day in night;
For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night
Whiter than new snow on a raven's back. (3.2.19)
Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night,
Give me my Romeo; and, when I shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun. (3.2.25)
O, I have bought the mansion of a love,
But not possess'd it, and, though I am sold,
Not yet enjoy'd: so tedious is this day (3.2.28)
As is the night before some festival
To an impatient child that hath new robes
And may not wear them. O, here comes my nurse,
And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks
But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence.
--William Shakespeare
I don't know why I hadn't posted this one before. As the child of immigrants and a New Yorker, it means a lot to me.
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
~Emma Lazarus, 1883
I was going to read this into a voice post, but I've had a cold all weekend and my voice isn't at my best. OTOH, I can post more of it; I was only going to read 10-15 lines, since I haven't figured out how to lj-cut the transcription of a voice post.
from Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, Scene 2
Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,
Towards Phoebus' lodging: such a wagoner (3.2.2)
As Phaëthon would whip you to the west,
And bring in cloudy night immediately. (3.2.4)
Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night,
That runaways' eyes may wink and Romeo
Leap to these arms, untalk'd of and unseen. (3.2.7)
Lovers can see to do their amorous rites
By their own beauties; or, if love be blind, (3.2.9)
It best agrees with night. Come, civil night, (3.2.10)
Thou sober-suited matron, all in black,
And learn me how to lose a winning match,
Play'd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods. (3.2.13)
Hood my unmann'd blood, bating in my cheeks,
With thy black mantle, till strange love, grown bold,
Think true love acted simple modesty. (3.2.16)
Come, night, come, Romeo, come, thou day in night;
For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night
Whiter than new snow on a raven's back. (3.2.19)
Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night,
Give me my Romeo; and, when I shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun. (3.2.25)
O, I have bought the mansion of a love,
But not possess'd it, and, though I am sold,
Not yet enjoy'd: so tedious is this day (3.2.28)
As is the night before some festival
To an impatient child that hath new robes
And may not wear them. O, here comes my nurse,
And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks
But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence.
--William Shakespeare
