Episode 12: A Bilingual Poet in French and English

Zackary Sholem Berger talks to Alexander Dickow, a poet, translator, and critic working in both French and English, about navigating countries, languages, and esthetics. With cameo appearances by Dr. Seuss, the Babylonian Talmud, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Here is the text of the poems read by Alexander Dickow on the podcast. To a Politician Your cellophane disguise for a tongue Furiously unbefits the even knavest Of these podium fisted Catilines I hate Whose dim broadcasts encrust With craven abjectives and slick nouns, Whose paramount pronouncements’ Weighty grovel fresh veneers each victim eye, Who gape and crave at limp wealth, Puppets of their own slanted lip And their thin speech as cheap As its callous stakes are ruthless: Our brittle faith, our breath, the truth. Galaxy Measureless and vacant husks Veneer along the pale gaps Kissing the smooth-lit kernels Far across the hesitation Contours Where cycles dip Ebbing forth aromas Of nectar vicinities All gleamed among Their dim stretchings Remote surroundments Hint around lucid cusps And milk-blinkings swerve Over grooved vastnesses Whose lofty gazes Empty to the brim resound Finespun legions Of distant stone pivot Within strange rings And innocent strains Swivel endless and lilt Like hearts wept upon The rings of far-fetched motes Tingling their ancient aubades Galaxie D’incommensurables écorces Enduisent selon les faîtes espacés, Et frémissant le semis d’éclairages, Floue les ourlets tout loin. Arômes qu’émane Un jusant cousus d’oublis, Luisez vos affleurements sourds Et vos proches nectars. Des avant-preuves perlent En glissant partout les orées lucides Où des clins de lait dérapent Pendant des éloignements vastes Dont les grands regards Vides à ras bord résonnent. Des légions respirées En pierre lointaine pivotent Dans des cerclages Et des airs d’innocence Louvoient des vibrements Comme des coeurs pleurés Dessus les anneaux d’improbables noyaux Frissonnant d’antiques aubades.