Epigrams Inspired by the Inscriptions in the Library of Congress - I (2009)

     1
“The poets who on earth have made us heirs of truth and pure delight by heavenly lays.”

The heirs of truth and pure delight shall strive by heavenly ways;
Less strenuous is the path they tread that’s graced by heavenly lays.

   
     2
“In books lies the soul of the whole past time.”

A book has some enchantment strange profused in every page,
Which puts it outside time itself to speak for every age.

   
     3
“Give instruction unto those who cannot procure it for themselves.”

What boon is wisdom to the world when secretly preserved?
Instruct the crowds who have it not, then wisdom is well served.

   
     4
“Words are also actions, and actions are a kind of words.”
A word is a kind of inner act that tells the inward man;
An action is the outer word the inner word began.


     5
“No musician but be sure he heard and strove to render feeble echoes of celestial streams.”

Music is within us all the misting of celestial streams,
In some, more lucky, it condensates like colours in our dreams.