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Monthly Archives: September 2006

poem of the day

Der Asra
by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)
T

poem of the day

Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard
by Thomas Gray (1716-1771)
It’s long but it’s a classic.

poem of the day

She Did Not Turn
by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
She did not turn,
But passed foot-faint with averted head
In her gown of green, by the bobbing fern,
Though I leaned over the gate that led
From where we waited with table spread;
But she did not turn;
Why was she near [...]

my reporting from Turin for Chess Life

A while back, I said that I would post a link to my reports from Turin that were published in the August issue of Chess Life. Unfortunately, most of it is only available to USCF members. One short piece, however, is available to all: Kirsan is re-elected.

poem of the day

A Dream Within a Dream
by Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow

poem of the day

Non Amo Te
by Martial (1st cent.)
Non amo te, Sabidi, nec possum dicere quare:
hoc tantum possum dicere, non amo te.
And here is a well-known translation by Tom Brown (1663-1704):
I do not like thee, Dr. Fell
The reason why I cannot tell.
But this I know and know full well,
I do not like thee, Dr. Fell.

poem of the day

Kubla Khan
by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were [...]

poem of the day

The Beauty
by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
O do not praise my beauty more,
In such word-wild degree,
And say I am one all eyes adore;
For these things harass me!
But do for ever softly say:
“From now unto the end
Come weal, come wanzing, come what may,
Dear, I will be [...]

poem of the day

The Passionate Man’s Pilgrimage
by Sir Walter Raleigh (1552?-1618)
Give me my scallop-shell of quiet,
My staff of faith to walk upon,
My scrip of joy, immortal diet,
My bottle of salvation,
My gown of glory, hope’s true gage;
And thus I’ll take my pilgrimage.
Blood must be my body’s balmer,
No other balm will [...]

poem of the day

The Flea
by John Donne (1572-1621)
Mark but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deny’st me is;
It suck’d me first, and now sucks thee,
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be.
Thou know’st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead;
Yet this enjoys before it woo,
[...]