Hidden Gems: Poets Forgotten by Time

Throughout history, there have been countless poets whose works have resonated deeply with humanity, yet much of their brilliance remains unknown to modern readers. These hidden gemsfrom world-renowned figures to obscure geniusesoffer profound insights into the human experience, reminding us that literature is not just a reflection of our times, but a timeless mirror to the soul.

Discovering Timeless Verse

Let us explore a select few of these forgotten treasures:

Matsuo Basho – A Master of Haiku

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) was a Japanese poet whose mastery of haiku has earned him a place among the world's greatest poets. Despite his enduring influence, Basho remains relatively unknown to many modern readers. His work often conveys profound meaning in just a few lines, encapsulating the essence of nature and human emotions with unparalleled elegance.

Example: "First Soft Snow"

"The first soft snow:nbow of light."

Translated by Michael R. Burch, this haiku captures the serene and enchanting atmosphere of the first snowfall, evoking a sense of awe and wonder.

Charles d'Orleans – A Poet in Exile

Charles d'Orleans (1394-1465) was a French poet who wrote remarkably well in his second language, Middle English. His verse, rooted in sorrow and nostalgia, offers a poignant glimpse into the life of a royal figure long separated from his beloved wife. His poem, "My Very Gentle Valentine," reflects his deep longing for her and the asymmetry of their early marriage.

Example: "My Very Gentle Valentine"

"My very gentle Valentineas I was born too late for you!'

Charles d'Orleans' heartfelt words poignantly depict his enduring love for his wife, written during his long imprisonment in the Tower of London.

Georg Trakl – A Poetic Visionary

Georg Trakl (1887-1914) was an Austrian poet whose works often convey a haunting sense of longing and impending doom. His poem "To the boy Elis" is a perfect example of his ability to weave complex emotions and symbols into his verses.

Example: "To the boy Elis"

"To the boy Elis
when the blackbird cries from the black forest/nit announces your downfall.
nYour lips sip the rock-springs blue coolness.
nYour brow sweats blood/nrecalling ancient myths /nand dark interpretations of birds flight.
nYet you enter the night with soft footfalls/nthe ripe purple grapes hang suspended/nas you wave your arms more beautifully in the blue.
nA thornbush crackles/nwhere now are your moonlike eyes/nHow long oh Elis have you been dead.
nA monk dips waxed fingers/ninto your body's hyacinth/nOur silence is a black abyss/nfrom which sometimes a docile animal emerges/nslowly lowering its heavy lids.
nA black dew drips from your temples:nthe lost gold of vanished stars.
n
nTranslator's Note: I believe that in the second stanza the blood on Elissa's forehead may be a reference to the apprehensive bloody sweat of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. If my interpretation is correct Elis hears the blackbirds cries, anticipates the danger represented by a harbinger of death but elects to continue rather than turn back. From what I have been able to gather the color blue had a special significance for Georg Trakl: it symbolized longing and perhaps a longing for death. The colors blue, purple, and black may represent a progression toward death in the poem.

Otomo no Sakanoue no Iratsume – An Ancient Poet's Heartfelt Cry

Otomo no Sakanoue no Iratsume (c. 700-750) was a Japanese poet whose work serves as a poignant reflection of a mother's longing for her daughter. Her poem "To a Daughter More Precious than Gems" captures the depth of her heartache and the pain of separation:

Example: "To a Daughter More Precious than Gems"

"Heavens cold dew has fallen/nand thus another season arrives.
nOh my child living so far away/ndo you pine for me as I do for you.
nI have trusted my jewel to the gem-guard/nnow there's nothing to do my pillow/nbut for the two of us to sleep together!
n
nI cherished you, my darling/nas the Sea God his treasures pearls.
nBut you are pledged to your husband/nsuch is the way of the world/nand torn from me like a blossom.
n
nI left you for faraway Koshin/nsince then your lovely eyebrows/ncurving like distant waves/nnever linger in my eyes.
n
nMy heart is as unsteady as a rocking boat/nbesieged by such longing I weaken with age/nand come close to breaking.
n
nIf I could have prophesied such longing/nI would have stayed and gazed on you constantly/nas into a shining mirror.
n
nI gaze out over the fields of Tadaka/nseeing the cranes that cry there incessantly/nsuch is my longing for you.
n
Oh my child/nwho loved me so helplessly/nlike a bird hovering over shallow river rapids!

Conclusion

The works of Basho, d'Orleans, Trakl, and Iratsume stand as testaments to the enduring power of poetry, offering us a window into the minds and hearts of individuals long gone. Their verses remind us that real literature transcends its time, finding its place in the hearts of future readers. Let us rediscover these timeless treasures and honor the poets who continue to speak to us across the centuries.