Praha

E.D. Blodgett with Czech translations by Marzia Paton

Prompted by renowned poet E.D. Blodgett’s deep love for and intimate experience of Prague, Praha is a poetic homage to the legendary city’s vital spirit. As they build on one another, the poems in the collection lift the reader over the threshold of purely mythic understanding and into the heart of one of Europe’s loveliest and most venerable cities. Each poem is accompanied by a translation into Czech, encouraging even those who do not know the language to immerse themselves in its sound. Superbly complemented by the mysteriously eloquent paintings of Czech artist Robert Kessner, Praha offers the moods of Prague in its many seasons and in all its magic.

About the Author

E.D. Blodgett is professor emeritus of comparative literature at the University of Alberta and a distinguished poet. He held the Louis Desrochers Chair in Études canadiennes at the Campus Saint-Jean from 2008 to 2010. His publications include Five-Part Invention: A History of Literary History in Canada, Elegy, and twenty books of poetry. His 1996 collection Apostrophes: Woman at the Piano won the Governor General’s Award. He is a past poet laureate of Edmonton, Alberta.

Table of Contents

  1. Praha | Praha 4
  2. Castle | Hrad 6
  3. Pomp | Pompa 8
  4. Cemeteries | Hrbitovy 10
  5. Bells | Zvony 12
  6. Pigeons | Holubi 14
  7. Emptiness | Prázdnota 16
  8. Opening | Otevírání 18
  9. Light | Svetlo 20
  10. Trees | Stromy 22
  11. Houses | Domy 24
  12. Stones | Kameny 26
  13. Lamps | Lampy 28
  14. Dreams | Sny 32
  15. Kings | Králové 34
  16. Rain | Déšt 36
  17. Cathedrals | Katedrály 38
  18. River | Reka 40
  19. Rooms | Pokoje 42
  20. Bird | Pták 44
  21. Unfolding | Rozvíjení 46
  22. Museum | Muzeum 48
  23. Lilacs | Šeríky 50
  24. Girl | Dívka 52
  25. Clouds | Mraky 54
  26. Sun | Slunce 56
  27. Rusalka | Rusalka 58
  28. Saints | Svatí 60
  29. Gardens | Sady 62
  30. Faces | Tváre 64
  31. Canals | Kanály 66
  32. Boulevards | Bulváry 70
  33. Gate | Branka 72
  34. Steps | Schody 74
  35. Forgetting | Zapomnení 76
  36. Petals | Okvetní lístky 78
  37. Fountains | Fontány 80
  38. Parks | Parky 82
  39. Leaf | List 84
  40. Towers | Veže 86
  41. Windows | Okna 88
  42. Chiaroscuro | Šerosvit 90
  43. Winter | Zima 92
  44. Flower | Kvet 94
  45. Angelus | Klekání 96
  46. Tram | Tramvaj 98
  47. Night | Noc 100
  48. Streets | Ulice 104
  49. Cloister | Klášter 106
  50. Snow | Sníh 108
  51. Horses | Kone 110
  52. Dust | Prach 112
  53. Crows | Vrány 114
  54. Ladies | Paní 116
  55. Sleepwalkers | Námesícníci 118
  56. Eternity | Vecnost 120
  57. Jewish Cemetery | Židovský hrbitov 122
  58. Bridges | Mosty 126
  59. Ecstasy | Extáze 128
  60. Na Kampe | Na Kampe 130
  61. God | Buh 132
  62. Music | Hudba 134
  63. Golden Praha | Zlatá Praha 136
  64. Chestnuts | Kaštany 138
  65. Heart | Srdce 140
  66. Afterword 145

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.5 CA). It may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes, provided that the original author is credited.

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