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Entries from February 12th, 2014

POETRY IN TRANSLATION (CCLV), GREECE, George SEFERIS (1900 – 1971): “Întoarcere din Exil”, “The Return of the Exile”

February 12th, 2014 · Comments Off on POETRY IN TRANSLATION (CCLV), GREECE, George SEFERIS (1900 – 1971): “Întoarcere din Exil”, “The Return of the Exile” · Books, International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

Prietene, stai liniştit,
încetul cu încetul te vei obşinui,
o să urcăm împreună
potecile ce le ştiai odată,
o să ne aşezăm
la umbra bătrânului pom.
Încetul cu încetul imaginile
grădinii şi a dealurilor se vor împrospăta în mintea ta.

– Dar eu caut casa mea părintească,
cu ferestre înalte,
umbrite de iederă;
Şi iarăşi caut farul
ştiut de marinari.

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POETRY IN TRANSLATION (CCLIV), ENGLAND – Carol RUMENS, (b. 1944): “And if it was”, “Iar dacă…”

February 6th, 2014 · Comments Off on POETRY IN TRANSLATION (CCLIV), ENGLAND – Carol RUMENS, (b. 1944): “And if it was”, “Iar dacă…” · International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations, Uncategorized

when we came, and I caught
the whiff of your sweat, like human sweat,
and your glow, saw your feathers and hair
flare like an Inca head-dress, though
no more than a match-flame, over and out, not catching
anyone’s fire but mine,

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POETRY IN TRANSLATION (CCLII & CCLIII): ENGLAND – Carol RUMENS and W. Leslie NICHOLLS, Epigram, Epigramă

February 5th, 2014 · Comments Off on POETRY IN TRANSLATION (CCLII & CCLIII): ENGLAND – Carol RUMENS and W. Leslie NICHOLLS, Epigram, Epigramă · International Media, Poetry, quotations, Translations

Epigram
Carol Rumens (b. 1944, London)

I wander if Ecclesiasstes
Could have been cheered up by a glass of pastis,
And if a double brandy
Might even have made him feel randy.

Albrecht Dürer
Naturally, never heard of the Führer…
I wonder if the latter…
But that does not really matter!

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POETRY IN TRANSLATION (CCXLI): FRANCE – Jean de LAFONTAINE (1621-1695): “Le Corbeau et le Renard”, “Corbul şi Vulpea”

February 4th, 2014 · Comments Off on POETRY IN TRANSLATION (CCXLI): FRANCE – Jean de LAFONTAINE (1621-1695): “Le Corbeau et le Renard”, “Corbul şi Vulpea” · International Media, Poetry, quotations, Translations

Domnule, tu să ştii că-orice linguşitor,
Doar profită din munca celui ce îl ascultă:
Lecţia să-ţi servească, mult mai mult ca o brânză.
Domnul corb, ruşinat de o astfel de pildă,
Se jură, cam târziu, că n-o să-l mai prindă.

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POETRY IN TRANSLATION (CCXL): SPAIN – Antonio GAMONEDA (1931 – 2006): “Pietre funerare”, “Gravestones”

February 3rd, 2014 · Comments Off on POETRY IN TRANSLATION (CCXL): SPAIN – Antonio GAMONEDA (1931 – 2006): “Pietre funerare”, “Gravestones” · International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations, Uncategorized

Nu mai e nici bunăstare, nici odihnă.
Fiara neagră vine pe aripă de vânt, iar oamenii sunt înfieraţi cu cifră de moarte.
Nu mai e nici bunăstare, nici odihnă.
Sub un soare torid, într-un vas de lacrimi, în suflet de visuri negre, un răcnet adânc creşte, ţesând cele mai triste fibre, iar în insomnia lor, mamele ce sălăşluiesc în inimă de fulger, îşi aţintesc privirea spre pădurea împietrită.

Do birds so groan?
All is blood soaked.
Deaf at the source of the music, ought I to insist anymore?
There is vigilance in the gardens placed between my spirit and the precision of the spies.
There is watching in the churches.

Beware of calcination and incest; I say, beware of your very self, Spain.

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