Michael Z.

@micz.bsky.social

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Poet, writer and translator.
micz.substack.com/

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I wrote this in Palermo, just at the tail end of summer. But I think it fits this horrid, overcast weather perfectly. A rainy, early morning poem. micz.substack.com/p/what-the-morning-knows

What the Morning Knowsmicz.substack.com In my case sleep renews and strengthens my resolve to go and see the world for more than dreams. It’s only at mid- afternoon that horrors stir and leisurely creep in. The world remains the same whil...

Written in a single breath and edited on a flight just before my self imposed deadline gives me the feeling of jotting down a last sonnet on the night before execution. micz.substack.com/p/persistence

Two for the price of one. Poems Inspired by the self-portraits of Oskar Kokoschka and Egon Schiele hanging in the Leopold Museum in Vienna. (Museumsplatz 1, well worth a visit.) micz.substack.com/p/museumsplatz-1-self-portraits-from

Museumsplatz 1: Self-Portraits from Viennamicz.substack.com Kokoschka I give my world a lapidary sense, Kids flying kites, and frisbees have their place Despite the hint of national disgrace Despite the tyrants who would oversee it. I only ask the artist shoul...

A travel poem this week. Something short and light to break up the more serious work. Remembering a summer, years ago, hitchhiking across the far east. micz.substack.com/p/hinterland

Hinterlandmicz.substack.com By famous hills great vineyards rise and crest, Onlookers grinning they have chosen best Among the brochure scenes. As terraced roofs reflect a Tuscan shine And each one thinks this heritage is mine, ...

Not exactly a war poem, but one I wrote while in and out of air raid shelters in Jerusalem . Something silly and frivolous written against the world outside. micz.substack.com/p/corrupts-a...

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I tried extremely hard to have the poem done by the 14’th, on the anniversary of his death, but with the war breaking out and everything that's been going on i’ve decided it was more important to get it right. I hope you think it was worth it. micz.substack.com/p/the-death-...

The Death of Randall Jarrellmicz.substack.com It's hard to say what happened on that night By weaving highway traffic heading home, Our scholar standing in the dark, alone Cars flashing like some dreadful metronome. Him or his madness indicating ...

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Michael Z.

My theory with translation is, like a bounty, you have to bring it back alive. For your consideration: Alla Luna - Adapted from Leopardi. micz.substack.com/p/to-the-moon

With It being the 50th anniversary of Auden's death I thought I would post a photo of every book of his I own. Well... Somewhere in my library there is also a hardback edition of Look, Stranger! before it was retitled to On this Island, and a paperback copy of The Dyer's Hand, but this should do.

My theory with translation is, like a bounty, you have to bring it back alive. For your consideration: Alla Luna - Adapted from Leopardi. micz.substack.com/p/to-the-moon

Elias Canetties ascetic disinterest in both ideas and people is in it’s own may admirable. But my god! The only occasional splodge of color is when he dips into his overwhelming resentment at people more successful then he is. Nice cover tho.

I know it’s chic for modern professors to play up the carefree, libertine look. But there is an art to lounging on the back of a salve, and the risk is, nine times out of ten, you just end up looking like a regular pervert.

An anti-romantic poem. micz.substack.com/p/all-too-sw...

The less style dominates literature the more it dominates film. Even TV shows now try to have a ‘look’.

Found this gem looking for something else. You shouldn't have seen it, but it all makes sense to them. (By Graham Annable. Same guy that did Puzzle Agent.)

The problem for confessional verse is that as far as art is concerned honesty is the most dubious of the moral qualities. In both it's passionate and dispassionate forms it appears to lack the permanence that one wants from it. It also has the bad habit of appearing too easy and almost never clever.

Not even a town, this was very much an attempt to capture the slow, seasonal life of the village I grew up in. micz.substack.com/p/something-...

During his long life and career Gabriele D'Annunzio was everything from an ultra-nationalist to a communist and a fascist. He was also a great poet: micz.substack.com/p/dannunzio-the-last-days-of-mankind

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Hello. I dont yet know how this works and Introductions are always awkward, but if you are one of the precious few not scared away by literature and poetry, then why not come say hi. 👋

Some alternative covers for my poem Pillars. All by the great Joel Meyerowitz. micz.substack.com/p/the-pillars-of-civilization

Looking though 2017 issues of the New Yorker while looking for a quote makes you terrified to say anything. What if you get things THAT wrong.

And here are some choice cuts from my collection of Osbert Lancaster cartoons.

Why not start your day with a light, melancholy poem about childhood, parenting and learning the piano. micz.substack.com/p/sheet-music I promise you it's less pretentious then it sounds.

Hello. I dont yet know how this works and Introductions are always awkward, but if you are one of the precious few not scared away by literature and poetry, then why not come say hi. 👋

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