Centre for Romanian Studies

POETRY IN TRANSLATION (LXXXV):

Gabriel ARESTI (1933-1975), BASQUE Country

Romanian Version by Constantin ROMAN

English Version by Toni STRUB

————————————

 

DACA PRETUL ADEVARULUI…

 

Daca pretul adevarului

este sa-mi ucida

fiicele,

sa-mi intineze nevasta

sa-mi darame casa

unde locuiesc;

daca pretul adevarului

este sa-mi taie

mana

cu care scriu,

limba

cu care cant;

daca pretul adevarului

este sa-mi stearga numele

din cartea de aur

a Literaturii Basce,

nici, odata si in nici un fel

dar mai cu seama, nicaieri

nu vor reusi, ei,

sa imi curme glasul.

&&&&&&&&

(Rendered in Romanian by Constantin ROMAN, Londra, 15 Iulie 2011

Dupa versiunea Engleza tradusa de Toni STRUB)

IF FOR TELLING THE TRUTH…

(Gabriel Aresti, 1963)

 

If for telling the truth

they must kill

my daughters,

rape my wife,

pull down

the house

where I live;

if for telling the truth

they must cut

off the hand

I write with,

the tongue

I sing with;

if for telling the truth

they must rub

out my name

from the golden pages

of Basque literature,

never in any way

nor in any place

will they be able

to make me shut up.

 

Translation: Toni Strub