Anvil Press Poetry
WelcomeFounded in 1968 by Peter Jay and now based in Greenwich, south-east London, Anvil Press is England’s longest-standing independent poetry publisher. We specialize in contemporary English poets – with a leavening of Irish and American – and in a range of translated poetry, from ancient classics to modern and contemporary poets. |
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February's featured books
Every so often a short period in a country’s history gives rise to an extraordinary burst of creativity. So it was in France from the 1840s to about 1870, when an abundance of poets emerged. Perhaps they have had little profound influence on English-language poetry, but they remain among the readable poets of any time.
Our new editions of Baudelaire and Rimbaud testify to their enduring strength, with their inventive presentations by Oliver Bernard (Rimbaud) and the late Francis Scarfe (Baudelaire). Nor should an older poet, Victor Hugo, be overlooked: Harry Guest's versions are a surprise and a delight.
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Poem of the month
Arthur Rimbaud
L’Éternité
Elle est retrouvée.
Quoi? – L’Éternité.
C’est la mer allée
Avec le soleil.
Âme sentinelle,
Murmurons l’aveu
De la nuit si nulle
Et du jour en feu.
Des humains suffrages,
Des communs élans
Là tu te dégages
Et voles selon.
Puisque de vous seules,
Braises de satin,
Le Devoir s’exhale
Sans qu’on dise: en fin.
Là pas d’espérance,
Nul orietur.
Science avec patience,
Le supplice est sûr.
Elle est retrouvée.
Quoi? – l’Éternité.
C’est la mer allée
Avec le soleil.
Mai 1872
Eternity
It has been found again. What? – Eternity. It is the sea¹ gone with the sun.
Sentinel soul, let us murmur our avowal that the night is full of nothingness, and the day on fire.
From human approbation, from common urges, you detach yourself here and take flight as you may.
Since from you alone, satiny embers, Duty breathes without anyone saying: there it is.
There is no hope here, no orietur.² Knowledge and fortitude, the [final] suffering is certain.
It has been found again.What? – Eternity. It is the sea gone with the sun.
1 . Cf. ‘ Mémoire’, 3 – la mère is hinted at here, in la mer.
2. = it (the sun) will rise (again).
Translated by Oliver Bernard
From Rimbaud: The Poems
Our featured books
Charles Baudelaire: Paris Blues
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Charles Baudelaire: The Complete Verse: Baudelaire
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Victor Hugo: The Distance, The Shadows
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Arthur Rimbaud: The Poems: Rimbaud
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