The Poetry of Miroslav Holub

This  week I am posting from Sanur in Bali about a Czech Poet.

I recently discovered the Czech poet, Miroslav Holub (1923-1998). Holub was poet and an immunologist. His poetic work was heavily influenced by his experiences as an Immunologist, writing many poems using his scientific knowledge to create poetic effect.  Holub prioritized his profession as a scientist over his writing. His poetry was predominantly unrhymed, making translation easier and more accurate.

Renowned Irish poet,  Seamus Heaney described Holub’s writing as 'A laying bare of things, not so much the skull beneath the skin, more the brain beneath the skull; the shape of relationships, politics, history; the rhythms of affections and disaffection; the ebb and flow of faith, hope, violence, art.'

In 1988 English poet  and writer, Ted Hughes referred to Holub as, 'One of the half dozen most important poets writing anywhere.' 

High praise indeed...

Here for your reading pleasure is one of Miroslav Holub's most popular poems, The Door.

The Door

Go and open the door.

Maybe outside there’s

a tree, or a wood,

a garden,

or a magic city.

Go and open the door.

Maybe a dog’s rummaging.

Maybe you’ll see a face,

or an eye,

or the picture

of a picture.

Go and open the door.

If there’s a fog

it will clear.

Go and open the door.

Even if there’s only

the darkness ticking,

even if there’s only

the hollow wind,

even if

nothing

is there,

go and open the door.

At least

there’ll be

a draught.

Miroslav Holub

It's Poetry Friday! Our host this week is Michelle Kogan  . Michelle is sharing a post that deals with people deal with pain and struggle through the arts.