Will not come back by Robert Lowell

Dark swallows will doubtless come back killing the injudicious nightflies with a clack of the beak;

but these that stopped full flight to see your beauty and my good fortune . . . as if they knew our names - they'll not come back. The thick lemony honeysuckle, climbing from the earthroot to your window, will open more beautiful blossoms to the evening;

but these . . . like dewdrops, trembling, shining, falling, the tears of the day -they'll not come back . . .

Some other love will sound his fireword for you and wake your heart, perhaps, from its cool sleep;

but silent, absorbed, and on his knees, as men adore God at the altar, as I love you - don't blind yourself, you'll not be loved like that.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Robert
• Lowell
• Dark
• swallows

[jpcohen1978]

For those interested in finding the poem, it's title is "Will Not Come Back," and it was published in Lowell's book "History." Very beautiful translation. Becquer receives credit for the original in the notes to Lowell's Collected Poems.

[JaneLearmonth]

@jpcohen1978 I'm grateful for the correction. I WILL change it forthwith! Thank you

[requiemvlog]

Isn't the author of this poem the Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Becquer?

("The Dark Swallows")

[JaneLearmonth]

It is certainly a translation of the Becquer poem which makes no attempt to imitate the metric pattern or the rhythmic stresses of the original although Becquer’s imagery, language, and internal structure are reproduced. Should we look to Robert Lowell for a greater degree of artistic integrity and a bit less condescension? Do you feel he is working from a strange definition of translation-as-creation that does not give credit where credit is due?

In any case, I hope you enjoyed it.

[edonnerb]

I loved this reading and i love your accent! It's beautiful. I was watching some of your other videos and i noticed you change your look according to the poem. I thought that was cool. You are a very pretty

[JaneLearmonth]

You're very kind, thank you :) I try to ring the changes so that people don't get bored with the same look :) So glad you enjoyed the reading.

[Esqpainting]

I am totally under your spell.

Thank you for the inspiration!

[GilesConradWatson]

Wonderful, dark, brooding performance.

[requiemvlog]

@JaneLearmonth Not a literature expert but I just thought that Becquer should be mentioned when using his poetry, even if it's an excellent re-written translation by Robert Lowell.

[JasonHi]

A beautiful woman reading Robert Lowell. I am suitably impressed. I found you quite mesmerizing.