Kestutis Nastopka, a teacher of symbolism at the University of Vilnius, a follower of Greimas, honoured us with his presence. He wrote a very beautiful article in almanac no 44: " Vision of Lithuania in the Symphonies of Oscar Milosz".

Caroline Paliulis recited several poems of Milosz from memory :

Symphony of September

Welcome, you who come to meet me
In the echo of my own feet, from the end of the dark and cold corridor of time.
Welcome, solitude, my mother,
When joy marches in my shadow, when the birds
Of laughter collide with the mirrors in the night, when the flowers
When the terrible flowers of the young pity smother my love (...)

Symphony of November

This will be absolutely as in this life. The same room.
- Yes, my child, the same. At dawn, the bird of the times in the leaves
Pale like a corpse: then the servants get up
And one hears the icy noise and holes in the buckets
At the fountain. Oh terrible, terrible youth! Empty heart!
This will be absolutely as in this life. There will be (...)

"For us, your presence is very precious and rewarding. It is a treasure, which you have offered. We Lithuanians have waited for you and prepared our hearts. It is with happiness that we receive you." Geneviève Druckuté

"To come to Lithuania, to discover the environment and its countryside, to which Milosz refers, confers a soul, a spirit, which proves to be distinctive. I found my roots here". Richard Backis

"I thought that perhaps we would spend an evening with you, but never did I imagine that you would be with us so often, that you would share your history, your memories, the good and bad moments of the past. Your presence amongst us is priceless. Perhaps we are going to read the poems of Milosz a little differently, now that we have seen the great forest, the lakes, and all the countryside of Lithuania." Janine Kohler

"You respect and admire not only the work of the poet, but also him as a person, and make his memory last, as is reflected in the almanacs of your association, which we always read with interest and great pleasure."
(...)
"What is so special about Milosz ? Perhaps it is the autumn countryside, which is so characteristic in our Lithuanian home. This landscape, which we have had in front of us for a very long time, is not only in November. This poetry of mists is very dear to us.» Nijole Kaselioniené

...

 

Houses and scenery of Lithuania, at Druskininkai and surrounding area, in the south of the country.

Guide to Lithuania, of which the translation into French is thanks to Caroline Paliulis.

Last Updated (Wednesday, 18 March 2009 10:38)