Po-mz - A Beautiful Victor Hugo Poem Translated By Tony Johansen

Pronounced "Poems" but in the whacky digital age we make up new words because someone already registered the real word.

These poems are collected and shared because they are special words, often very profound, often sensual, and always very beautiful and meaningful.

Here are words from the greatest poets who ever lived, some of them very famous, but there are also treasures from lesser known poets who perhaps deserve to be better known. I humbly offer some of my poems in amongst this illustrious company. Please forgive me for that, and I hope you enjoy this rich selection.

Po-mz is designed to allow serendipity a large role in your reading pleasure. Do not expect the poetry to be ordered according to subject or poet. Instead you have two choices. You can read in a linear fashion using the next and previous buttons at the bottom of each page, or you can use the archives link at the bottom of this sidebar to randomly hop from poem to poem. Enjoy.

GO MOBILE
Now Po-mz comes in a special edition designed for easy reading on any internet enabled mobile phone. The URL you will need is http://po-mz.tumblr.com/mobile
Those fortunate enough to have an iPhone should just use the regular URL for best results.

LINKS
Gatherr
Cultural items of interest gathered from the web. Updated daily with an intense focus on a different theme for each day.

TonyJohansen.com
The main web site about the work of artist Tony Johansen. Extensive galleries of artwork as well as selected writings and poetry.

Diary Of An Artist
Online diary of Tony Johansen. The trivia, traumas and triumphs of an artist struggling to survive in a new world.

PaintMaking.com
The webs premier site on pigments and making artist's paints in the studio.

Go Figure
An online extension of a painting by Tony Johansen.

Voice In My Head
The background and story of the painting of the portrait of Leo Sayer by Tony Johansen

Crypts And Cats
Interesting places (and cats) within walking distance of Kings Cross.

Hens Night Ideas
Arty Party's are the fun way to celebrate a Hens Night.

EROTIC ART LINKS
Femaylz
Artistic erotic images of the female form collected, edited, and created by Tony Johansen. WARNING: This site contains explicit imagery of nude or semi clad women. Do not enter if you are under 18 years of age or are offended by sexually graphic images.

Maylz
Artistic erotic images of the male form collected, edited, and created by Tony Johansen. WARNING: This site contains explicit imagery of nude or semi clad men and includes images of penises. Do not enter if you are under 18 years of age or are offended by sexually graphic images.

Intercorz
Artistic erotic images of the male and female form engaged in sexual activity. The images are intended to explore the beauty of the human form in all activities. The images are collected, edited, and created by Tony Johansen. WARNING: This site contains explicit imagery of nude or semi clad men and women engaged in sexual activity. Do not enter if you are under 18 years of age or are offended by sexually graphic images.

A Beautiful Victor Hugo Poem Translated By Tony Johansen

SINCE I PUT MY LIP TO YOURS

Since I put my lip to yours, since I in your hands posed
My plain visage, sometimes I breathed the soft breath of your
Heart, perfume of enchantment;

Because it was given to me to hear you say the words where is
Spread the mysterious heart, since I saw crying, since I saw smiling,
Your mouth on my mouth, your eyes on my eyes;

Since then my charmed head sees the ray of your
Star, alas always veiled, since I saw falling into the wave of my
Life a petal from a torn off rose of your days,

I now say to the rushing years: - Pass! always pass!
I do not have to age anymore! Go away with your flowers
All wilted; I have in my heart a flower that no one can gather!

Your wings will spill nothing by touching this well filled vase
That I drink from. My soul has more fire than you have ashes.
My heart has more love than you have forgetfulness.

- Victor Hugo (translated by Tony Johansen.)

Rather than try and recreate the structure of Victor Hugo’s poem (and thereby stray from the meaning of the words) I instead tried to be true to the underlying essence of this stunning poem. The original French as written by Hugo is quite gorgeous and so is reproduced below:

Puisque j’ai mis ma lèvre à ta coupe encor pleine,
Puisque j’as dans tes mains posé mon front pâli,
Pisque j’ai respiré parfois la douce haleine
De ton âme, parfum dans l’ombre enselevi;

Puisu’il me fut donné de t’entendre me dire
Les mots où se répand le coeur mystérieux,
Puisque j’ai vu pleurer, puisque j’ai vu sourire
Ta bouche sur ma bouche et tes yeux sur mes yeux;

Puisque j’ai vu briller sur ma tête ravie
Un rayon de ton astre, hélas! voilé toujours,
Puisque j’ai vu tomber dans l’onde de ma vie
Une feuille de rose arrachée à tes jours,

Je puis maintenant dire aux rapides années:
-Passez! passez toujours! je n’ai plus à vieillir!
Allez-vous-en avecs vos fleurs toutes fanées;
J’ai dans l’âme une fleur que nul ne peut cueillir!

Votre aile en le heurtant ne fera rien répandre
Du vase où je m’abreuve et que j’ai bien rempli.
Mon âme a plus de feu que vous n’avez de cendre!
Mon coeur a plus d’amour que vous n’avez d’oubli!

- Victor Hugo