b p LAdy.poems.htmlTEXTttxt@Km 2 -_Jg n PPԺ`B-ԺBmAdy.poems.htmlsTEXTttxtTEXTttxt@ZLJgJmg n P+P` BB-ԼBmB/ Poems of Endre Ady

Selected poems of Endre Ady

Longing for Love

Neither the issue nor the sire,
neither fulfilment nor desire
am I for anyone,
am I for anyone.

I am as all men, the sunless sea,
the alien thule, mystery,
a fleeing wisp of light,
a fleeing wisp of light.

But I must look for friends and brothers;
I want to show myself to others
that seeing they will see,
that seeing they will see.

For this my lyric masochism;
I long to close the gaping schism,
and thus belong somewhere,
and thus belong somewhere.
(1909)


Back to Ady

The Magyar Fallow

I walk on meadows run to weed,
on fields of burdock and mallow.
I know this rank and ancient ground -
this is the Magyar fallow.

I bow down to the sacred soil;
this virgin ground is gnawed I fear.
You skyward groping seedy weeds,
are there no flowers here?

While I look at the slumbering earth,
the twisting vines encircle me,
and scent of long dead flowers steep
my senses amorously.

Silence. I am dragged down and roofed
and lulled in burdock and in mallow.
A mocking wind goes whisking by
above the mighty fallow.


Back to Ady

Beneath Mount Sion

Divinely bearded and unkempt
in rags he flit and puffed cold air,
my long ago dorgotten Lord.
Upon a dank and blinden dawn
beneath Mount Sion it was somewhere.

He wore a flowing, bell-shaped frock
with scarlet scripture patched and sewn.
Shabby and sombre was the Lord.
He flapped and beat upon the for.
I heard a bell-like Advent tone.

I held a lantern in my hand,
within my soul was faith again,
and in my mind departed youth.
I recognized the smell of God,
for I was seeking someone then.

He paused for me beneath the mount,
the stones leaped into blazing fire.
He tolled the bell and soothed me
and soaked my face with gentle tears -
merciful was the ancient sire.

I kissed his wrinkled, ancient hand,
and with a racking wail I thought -
"What is your name, my kind old Lord
to whom I said so many prayers?"
But for his name in vain I sought.

"I have returned to you in death
from life where I was damned to hell.
Must I recall a childhood prayer?"
He looked at me with sorrowful eyes
and tolled the bell and tolled the bell.

"If I but knew your lofty name."
He paused. I heard a dirgelike air,
and psalmic heels withdrew uphill.
And weepingly I sit and moan
beneath Mount Sion lost somewhere.


Back to Ady

Benediction from a Train

The express is hurtling at full speed,
the sun explodes into the sea,
my memories flash a millisecond,
and I bless you.

"May God bless
all your goodness,
your unresponsiveness,
and all your wickedness.
May your words of torment
return to you in benediction.
May your coldness
leap into flames.
All is at an end.
I have a thousand cares,
and for my folly
the bier is spread.
Well, I bless you,
and meanwhile
kiss me softly,
in silence and peace.
I wish to leave you
with a memory and a kiss
to freeze for warmth,
to be alone,
to feel alone,
to die alone.
May God bless you."

The express is hurtling at full speed,
the sun explodes into the sea,
my memories flash a millisecond,
and I bless you.


Back to Ady

Who Come from Far Away

We are the men who are always late,
we are the men who come from far away.
Our walk is always weary and sad,
we are the men who are always late.

We do not even know how to die in peace.
When the face of distant death appears,
our souls splash into a tam tam of flame.
We do not even know how to die in peace.

We are the men who are always late.
We are never on time with our success,
our dreams, our heaven, or our embrace.
We are the men who are always late.


Back to Ady