Poem fractal

Side by side

Random

0.052 apart. A smaller distance means the lines are built more alike.

This number is read from the build of the lines. The bright edge is that number, carried outward until the pattern repeats.

Sinking of the Mendi

by S.E.K. Mqhayi

0.8950 − 0.4155i

Drawing the boundary…

Canzoniere 11

by Francesco Petrarca

0.8778 − 0.3666i

Drawing the boundary…

The poems

Each poem scrolls on its own, so the two texts stay beside each other.

Sinking of the Mendi

by S.E.K. Mqhayi

Ukutshona kukamendi

Ewe, le nto kakade yinto yaloo nto-
Thina, nto zaziyo, asothukanga nto!
Sibona kamhlophe, sithi bekumelwe;
Sitheth'engqondweni, sithi kufanelwe.

Xa bekungenjalo bekungayi kulinga,
Ngoko ke, SoTase! Kwaqal'ukulunga!
Le nqanaw'uMendi namhla yendisile,
Nal'igazi lethu lisikhonzisile!
Asinithumanga ngazo izicengo;

Asinithenganga ngayo imibengo.
Bekungenganzuzo zimakhwezi-khwezi;
Bekungengandyebo zingangeenkwenkwezi-
Sikwatsho nakuni, bafel'eAfrika,
KwelaseJamani yaseMpuma-langa-bekungembek'eninayo kuKumkani,
bekungentobeko yenu kwiBritani.

Mhla nashiy'ikhaya sithethille nani,
Mhla nashiy'intsapho salathile kuni,
Mhla sabamb'izandla, mhla kwamanz'amehlo;
Mhla balil'onyoko, bangqukrelek'oyihlo;
Mhla nashiy'ikhaya sithethile nani,
Mhla nashiy'intsapho salathile kuni,
Mhla sabamb'izandla, mhla kwamanz'amehlo;

Mhla balil'onyoko, bangqukrelek'oyihlo;
Mhla nazishiy'ezi ntaba zakowenu,
Nayininikel'imiva imilamb'ezwe lenu,
Asitshongo na kuni, midak'akowethu,
Ukuthi, "Kwelo zwe nilidini lethu!?

Ngesibinge ngantoni na ka kade?
Idini lomzi liyintoni na kade?
Asingamathol'amaduna omzi na?
Asizizithandwa zesizwe kade na?
Ngoku kuthetha ke siyendelisela,
Sibhekis'ezantsi, sihlahla indlela.
AsinguHabheli n'elomhlaba idini?
AsinguMesiya n' elaseZulwini?
Thuthuzelekani ngoko, zinkedama;
Kuf'pmnye kakade, mini kwakhiw'omnye;
Kukhonza mnye kade, zekuphil'omnye.

Ngokwenjenje kwethu sithi, yakhekani;
Lithabatheni eli qhalo labadala:
Kuba bathi, "Akuhlanga lungehlanga!"
Awu! Zaf'iint'ezinkulu zeAfrika!

Isindiwe le nqanawa 'de yazika,
Kwaf'amakhalipha, amafa-nankosi.
Ukufa kwawo kunomvuzo nomvuka.
Ndinga ndingema nawo ngoMhla woKuvuka,
Ndingqambe njengomnye osebenzileyo,
Ndikhanye njengoMso oqaqambileyo.

Makube njalo.

Canzoniere 11

by Francesco Petrarca

Lassare il velo o per sole o per ombra,
donna, non vi vid'io
poi che in me conosceste il gran desio
ch'ogni altra voglia d'entr'al cor mi sgombra.

Mentr'io portava i be' pensier' celati,
ch'ànno la mente desïando morta,
vidivi di pietate ornare il volto;
ma poi ch'Amor di me vi fece accorta,

fuor i biondi capelli allor velati,
et l'amoroso sguardo in sé raccolto.
Quel ch'i' piú desiava in voi m'è tolto:

sí mi governa il velo
che per mia morte, et al caldo et al gielo,
de' be' vostr'occhi il dolce lume adombra.

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