{"id":2390,"date":"2021-12-06T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/?p=2390"},"modified":"2021-12-05T16:13:16","modified_gmt":"2021-12-05T15:13:16","slug":"2390","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/2021\/12\/2390\/","title":{"rendered":"The Collected Songs of Honest Shores"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Image: <\/strong> \u00a9 H.S<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Au<\/strong>thor:<\/strong> H.S<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These poems were written nineteen-hundred years ago on the rocks, trees, and Temple walls of Switzerland\u2019s Jura Mountain, then under Roman occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The poet was Honest Shores, a pagan hermit who begged for food at temples, lectured in the streets and often sang and drank with goatherds in the forested mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little is known about his life, except that he lived in relative poverty, despite having an education. He might have lived for a time as a tutor in a middle-sized Roman city, as he seems to understand societal ills that assailed the Roman Empire, even during its Golden Age (Cf. \u201cPax Romana\u201d). However, all of this is speculations taken from the poems themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This new translation of his work, despite being incomplete (This collection only including twenty poems, even though some sources suggest he wrote a thousand) significantly revises and updates the poems for a modern audience. Be not shocked if you see references to modern technology and problems, as the translator took some liberties to adapt old roman references for more contemporary counterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although he was educated, Honest Shores was derided at the time for using colloquial and vulgar forms of Latin in his poems. This suggests that, although he derided morals of his time, he never took himself too seriously. Likewise, the translator used an idiom that is clear, graceful, and neutral enough to last nineteen-hundred years more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m lifting my drink<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe ancient generations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sowed and Reaped<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until the soil became acidic<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, they pierced the crust<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extracting the blood<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until the caverns collapsed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now they send cars into space<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burning metric tons of fuel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The worst is<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They lived peacefully<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoying the fruits of their labour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But us? We will live to see<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Earth becoming Venus<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And with the sky filled with blood and smoke<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ocean licking my mat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the woods burning<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will receive a message<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From my manager that says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Damn that\u2019s crazy\u2026 Can you come in though?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re short-staffed tonight.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So here it is<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the UMURANGI Generation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The generation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That has to watch the world die!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lone boar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amongst the woods of Neuch\u00e2tel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His fur, dull enough<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attracts no hunters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But healthy enough<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So he attracts mates<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared to others<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His stature is small<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he hides in the bushes so well<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never the fighter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is rather weak<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But his tusks are sharp<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So others don\u2019t bother fighting him<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living his whole life<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unremarkable, unnoticed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only when he dies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One may see the jewel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was inside him<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The marionette<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wanted to be a real boy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without realizing that<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His incarnation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would not cut his strings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if it did<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He would not move anymore<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who pray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From whence did they come?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some say \u201cGod\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others say \u201cDieu\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others still<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Say \u201cAllah\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those are only words<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vibrations of air<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written names<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On blank sheets<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absent of meaning<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re helpful without being useful<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To think them useful<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is to consider<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pointing finger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the moon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empty woods, no one in sight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet hear! The jingle of bells<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From deep\u2026 Over there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filtered by the trees<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slant rays<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shine once more<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the sheep<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bell on his collar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looks \u2013 inquisitive \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At his grass<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That became golden<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So young yet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of my friends is getting married<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He asks me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen will you marry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I ask him<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen will you divorce?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We both laugh for a different reason<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Him: Because I am behind<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me: Because he is in front!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My dream house<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has a room<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turned into a library<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of books on each shelf<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An old leather chair<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plants! As numerous as books<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The light of the evening<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the wind<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filtered by the evergreen forest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus I will travel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without ever leaving home<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I settle for a studio<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lone in the empty city<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like the tailor bird<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Were it to have the whole grove<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would settle on a single branch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alone on its branch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crow sings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watching the people<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cold wind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only one who caresses him<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hermit drops by<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing drunkenness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same instant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That the welcomed notifications<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make the dusk for two<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An evening for ten!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

11<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the deep forest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Oak sings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the wind<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But solitary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one hears his song<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the willows<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of the lake<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A beautiful rock<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perfect for building<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A palace<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A temple<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or a hut<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forsaken by all<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caressed by the waves<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least it shelters mice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

13<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From below<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The canopy seems ablaze<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The autumn sunset<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Makes redheads of us all<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without an effort<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The duckling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let itself go up and down<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the movement of the waves<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To each tool its usefulness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lamborghini<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cannot park<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where the lil\u2019 Twingo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply can<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

16<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wanting everything <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing everything<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experimenting<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By experiencing all things<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zip gets done<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A wave when it breaks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Added nothing to the sea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearn to code\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen will you get your license?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPut some money on the side\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearn a new language\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake care of your mental health\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake care of your body\u2019s health\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is hard to make a ball<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With dry sand<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

18<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reap the day!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Savour the instant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carped Diem!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you only think about reaping<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll forget to sow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And end up with a wasteland<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

19<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you chase<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Money, followers, wisdom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By gesticulating wildly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll exhaust yourself<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But see how<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The branch most idle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is the seat of many birds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

20<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In your library<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Bible<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Qur\u2019an<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Sutras<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than this poppycock<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re much better off with my poems<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feel free to flash them up on your screen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And read them from time to time<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Image: \u00a9 H.S Author: H.S These poems were written nineteen-hundred years ago on the rocks, trees, and Temple walls of Switzerland\u2019s Jura Mountain, then under Roman occupation. The poet was Honest Shores, a pagan hermit who begged for food at temples, lectured in the streets and often sang and drank with goatherds in the forested […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1002327,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[36],"class_list":{"0":"post-2390","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-2021-winter","7":"tag-poetry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1002327"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2390"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/musemagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}