Jack Gilbert's "I dream of lost vocabularies that might express some of what we no longer can." Something inexpressible.
Jack Gilbert (1925-2012), a contemporary American poet, is the author of five collections of poems, including "The Fire", "Rejection of Paradise", and "A Dance Unique". He has won many poetry awards including the Yale Young Poets Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Award.
《THE FORGOTTEN DIALECT OF THE HEART》Translation:
THE FORGOTTEN DIALECT OF THE HEART
The Forgotten Inner Dialect
How astonishing it is that language can almost mean, and frightening that it does not quite.
How amazing that language can almost always mean, and frightening that it does not quite mean.
Love, we say, God, we say, Rome and Michiko, we write, and the words Get it wrong.?
Love, we say, God, we say, Rome And Michiko, we wrote, and words misunderstood it.
We say bread and it means according to which nation.?
We say bread, its meaning depends on which nation.
French has no word for home, and we have no word for strict pleasure.?
French has no word for home, and we have no word for strict pleasure.?
French has no word for home, and we have no word for strict pleasure.
A people in northern India is dying out because their ancient tongue has no words for endearment.?
A people in northern India is dying out because their ancient tongue has no words for endearment.?
A people in northern India is dying out because their ancient tongue has no words for endearment.?
class words.
I dream of lost vocabularies that might express some of what we no longer can.?
I dream of lost vocabulary that might express some of what we no longer can.?
I dream of lost vocabulary that might express some of what we no longer can. something.
Maybe the Etruscan texts would finally explain why the couples on their tombs are smiling.
Maybe the Etruscan texts would finally explain why the couples on their tombs are smiling. .
And maybe not.
Maybe it won’t be explained.
When the thousands of mysterious Sumerian tablets were translated, they seemed to be business records.?
When the thousands of mysterious Sumerian tablets were translated, they seemed to be business records.?
When the thousands of mysterious Sumerian tablets were translated, they seemed to be business records. Seems to be a business record.
But what if they are poems or psalms?
But what if they are poems or psalms?
But what if they are poems or psalms?
My joy is the same as twelve Ethiopian goats standing silent in the morning light.?
My joy is the same as twelve Ethiopian goats standing silent in the morning light.?
My joy is the same as twelve Ethiopian goats standing silent in the morning light.
O Lord, thou art slabs of salt and ingots of copper,as grand as ripe barley lithe under the wind's labor.
O Lord, thou art slabs of salt and ingots of copper,as grand as ripe barley lithe under the wind's labor. , magnificent like ripe wheat bending in the wind.
Her breasts are six white oxen loaded with bolts of long-fibered Egyptian cotton.?
Her breasts are six white oxen loaded with bolts of long-fibered Egyptian cotton.?
Her breasts are six white oxen loaded with bolts of long-fibered Egyptian cotton.
My love is a hundred pitchers of honey.?
My love is a hundred pitchers of honey.
Shiploads of thuya are what my body wants to say to your body.?
Shiploads of thuya are what my body wants to say to your body.?
Shiploads of thuya are what my body wants to say to your body.
Giraffes are this desire in the dark.?
Giraffes are this desire in the dark.
Perhaps the spiral Minoan script is not a language but a map.
Perhaps the spiral Minoan script is not a language but a map.
What we feel most has no name but amber, archers, cinnamon, horses and birds.
What we feel most has no name but amber, archers, cinnamon, horses and birds.