International Czeslaw Milosz Festival
Introduction; An Invisible Rope:
Milosz's Underground Publications
Robert FaggeD:
Welcome to the International Milosz Festival. In 1871 ,
Walt Whi tman published a poem as part of hi s
Leaves oj Grass
entitled
"Sparkl es from the Wheel," whi ch is included in the section "Autumn
Rivul ets." I would like to take a moment to read it to you because it is
somewhat embl emati c of the endeavor on whi ch we are embarked today.
"Sparkles from the Whee!."
Where th e city's ceaseless crowd moves on th e livelong day,
Withdrawn I j oin a gro up of children watching, I pause aside
with th em.
By the curb toward th e edge of th e flagging,
A knife-grinder works at his wheel sharpening a great knife,
Bending over he ca refull y ho lds it to th e ston e, by foot and
kn ee,
With measur'd tread he turns rapidly, as he presses with light
but firm hand,
Forth issue then in copious golden j ets,
Sparkl es from th e wh eel.
The scene and al l its belongings, how th ey seize and affect me,
The sad sharp-chinn'd old man with worn clothes and broad
shoulder- band of lea ther,
Myself effu sing and fluid , a phantom curiously floatin g, now
here absorb'd and arres ted,
The group, (an unminded point set in a vas t surrounding)
The attentive, qui et children, th e lo ud, proud , restive base of
the streets,
The low hoarse purr of th e whirling stone, th e light-press'd
blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkl es from th e wh eel.
