Poetry@BibliothecaAlexandrina 15th Annual Poetry Session
Honored to read with many distinguished friends from around the world for Poetry@BibliothecaAlexandrina and the 15th Annual IFBA Poetry Session being hosted on-line real-time this year for the March 2021 event.
I have debuted, excerpts from my translation-in-progress of the Ancient Greek to English verse of the Stoic Philosopher and Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius "ΤΑ 'ΕΙΣ ΕΑΥΤΟΝ" / "Meditations" or as I prefer calling them, "things unto thyself" which were graciously received.
On this occasion and in keeping with this year's thematics, I shared some contemporary modernisms via comparative literature Re: the state of Humanity, the world and "pandemic" from Marcus Aurelius which were never written to be published but rather written only for himself; to be become more familiar with the self; exactly as the ancient Sanskrit word 'meditation' translates.
My literary and philosophical interests were in-stirred some years prior while translating the Stoic, Cleanthes' "Hymn to Zeus" and being most fond of Marcus Aurelius' perspectives as well as his Stoicism, I have been inspired by his introspection, letters and thoughts on thinking, living, life & death, love & war, plague and peace which were written almost 2,000 years prior yet they remain timeless filled with much Humanity, compassion and Human-ness yet most contemporary with the times we live.
“Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν”
Selected excerpt from Marcus Aurelius’ ‘Meditations’ for the IFBA Poetry Session 2021
translation from the Ancient Greek to English verse
by Ginger F. Zaimis
BOOK 3:7
…
Regard not; anything
Which obliges one
To break from your faith – !
Neither which flings integrity
Behind, or embraces hate
Nor curses another
and/or covets such things
Thus needing walls of secrecy,
Shrouded as curtains, draped.
Put first, one’s own mind,
And divinity all the while
Tending the seed
Of the Divine
Within, as holy deed.
Less the drama of living,
Of life, of thyself.
…
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