Translated Poem: Plescheev’s “Autumn”

Plescheev's Autumn - English Translation

Today’s translated poem is a bit less fall-positive than you might expect from this blog by now, but it’s one that rather stole my heart while I was in Russia, as its simplicity made it easy to learn and remember. The text is “Autumn” by Alexei Nikolaevich Plescheev, a revolutionary poet of the 19th century — … Read more…

Translated Poem: Afanasy Fet’s “I’ll say nothing…”

Night flowers

Ever had feelings for someone, and you just couldn’t work up the nerve to tell them? Or worse, you tried to hide that you liked them at all? Today’s poem, written by the 19th-century Russian poet Afanasy Fet, expresses that feeling with poignant simplicity and elegance. I tried to preserve as much of that tone as … Read more…

Happy Halloween: 15 Spooky Stories, Poems and Songs Under 15 Minutes

All right, folks, it’s time to jump on the bandwagon and give you my top reading recommendations for Halloween. Except I’m not going to recommend books. No, I suspect your reading list is long enough already. Instead, I’ve gathered up my favorite stories, poems, songs, and poem-songs, which you can enjoy in 15 minutes or less. … Read more…