
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
In this eighth season of The Well Read Poem, we will be reading six poems about birds. Since antiquity, birds have supplied rich material to poets, being by turns regal, charming, absurd, delicate, dangerous, and philosophical creatures. This season is dedicated to the animal lovers in our audience, particularly to Emily Raible who suggested the subject in the first place.
Today's poem is "Les Hiboux (The Owls)" by Charles Baudelaire, translated from the original French by Roy Campbell. Poem begins at timestamp 8:38.
"Les Hiboux (The Owls)"
by Charles Baudelaire (trans. Roy Campbell)
Within the shelter of black yews The owls in ranks are ranged apart Like foreign gods, whose eyeballs dart Red fire. They meditate and muse.
Without a stir they will remain Till, in its melancholy hour, Thrusting the level sun from power, The shade establishes its reign.
Their attitude instructs the sage, Content with what is near at hand, To shun all motion, strife, and rage.
Men, crazed with shadows that they chase, Bear, as a punishment, the brand Of having wished to change their place.
4.9
239239 ratings
In this eighth season of The Well Read Poem, we will be reading six poems about birds. Since antiquity, birds have supplied rich material to poets, being by turns regal, charming, absurd, delicate, dangerous, and philosophical creatures. This season is dedicated to the animal lovers in our audience, particularly to Emily Raible who suggested the subject in the first place.
Today's poem is "Les Hiboux (The Owls)" by Charles Baudelaire, translated from the original French by Roy Campbell. Poem begins at timestamp 8:38.
"Les Hiboux (The Owls)"
by Charles Baudelaire (trans. Roy Campbell)
Within the shelter of black yews The owls in ranks are ranged apart Like foreign gods, whose eyeballs dart Red fire. They meditate and muse.
Without a stir they will remain Till, in its melancholy hour, Thrusting the level sun from power, The shade establishes its reign.
Their attitude instructs the sage, Content with what is near at hand, To shun all motion, strife, and rage.
Men, crazed with shadows that they chase, Bear, as a punishment, the brand Of having wished to change their place.
6,939 Listeners
3,349 Listeners
691 Listeners
2,965 Listeners
1,025 Listeners
516 Listeners
504 Listeners
310 Listeners
838 Listeners
719 Listeners
712 Listeners
2,010 Listeners
1,102 Listeners
376 Listeners
424 Listeners