A TRIBUTR TO MIKLOS RADNOTI
(1909-1944)
‘I AM A POET WHO’S FIT FOR THE SKY’S FIRE
BECAUSE TO TRUTH HE’S TESTIFIED’-Miklos)
The foremost Hungarian poet of the twentieth
century,
Was born in Budapest in 1909 into a Jewish
family.
Both his mother and twin brother died at his
birth!
But in our Muse blessed poetic sky he has left
behind his indelible mark!
He always loved Hungary and was a dedicated
Nationalist,
Later, converted to Catholicism, but remained
fiercely anti-fascist!
In 1934 obtained a PhD in Hungarian Literature;
Got married to Fanni Gyarmati the following year.
His earlier poetical works –‘Pagan Salute’, ‘Song
of Modern Shepherd’ and Translations are held
very dear!
Identified as a Jew, sent to the labour camp at
Yugoslavia, as fate had slated,
And with the approach of the Russian army, -
those camps got evacuated!
A forced route march followed through Hungary
towards the German border;
By that megalomaniac - Hitler’s orders!
Eventually, too weak to walk, along with 21 of
his mates,
Was shot by the guards, an inhuman fate!
And after the war when their mass grave was
exhumed,
His wife found in his trench coat pocket a small
pencil scribbled note book!
It contained his posthumous collection-‘Sky
Without Clouds’ - Radnoti’s legacy,
His eternal dedication to the Muse of Poetry!
-Raj Nandy
12 Mar 09
New Delhi
(MOVED BY THE POETRY OF MIKLOS RADNOTI, I
WANTED ALL TRUE LOVERS OF POETRY TO READ
HIS WORKS!)
RAJ NANDY
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-tribute-to-miklos-radnoti/