2015 January

Entries from January 31st, 2015

Poetry in Translation (CCCXVI): Walt WHITMAN (1819-1892), U.S.A. – “To a Stranger”, “Trecătorule”

January 31st, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXVI): Walt WHITMAN (1819-1892), U.S.A. – “To a Stranger”, “Trecătorule” · Famous People, International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

You give me the pleasure of your eyes, face, flesh, as we pass- you
take of my beard, breast, hands, in return,
I am not to speak to you- I am to think of you when I sit alone, or
wake at night alone,
I am to wait- I do not doubt I am to meet you again,
I am to see to it that I do not lose you

Poetry in Translation (CCCXV): Alexandru Osvald (A. O.) TEODOREANU, aka “Pastorel” (1894-1964), ROMANIA – “CALIGULA ”, “CALIGULA ”

January 24th, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXV): Alexandru Osvald (A. O.) TEODOREANU, aka “Pastorel” (1894-1964), ROMANIA – “CALIGULA ”, “CALIGULA ” · Communist Prisons, PEOPLE, Poetry, POLITICAL DETENTION / DISSENT, quotations, Translations

CALIGULA
Pastorel TEODOREANU
(1894-1964)

Caligula, omnipotent
Rode his horse to Parliament.
Ceausescu more sinister
Made his ass a Minister.

Rendered in English by Constantin ROMAN,
London © 2015 Copyright Constantin ROMAN, London

Poetry in Translation (CCCXIV): Alexandru O. TEODOREANU, aka PASTOREL (1894-1964), ROMANIA – “Soldate Rus, Slavă Ţie!”, “Hail, Soviet Soldier!”, “Gloire au Soldat Soviétique!” –

January 23rd, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXIV): Alexandru O. TEODOREANU, aka PASTOREL (1894-1964), ROMANIA – “Soldate Rus, Slavă Ţie!”, “Hail, Soviet Soldier!”, “Gloire au Soldat Soviétique!” – · Poetry, quotations, Translations

You, Soviet soldier, Soviet soldier,
Why are you perched so high, I wonder?
Because you conquered us, as well,
Or that your feet may stink like hell?

“GLOIRE AU SOLDAT SOVIÉTIQUE!”
Păstorel Teodoreanu
(1894-1964),

Toi soviétique, si haut perché,
Pourquoi es-tu si isolé?
Serait-ce par marque de respect? s
Ou pour ne pas sentir tes pieds?

Version Francaise par Constantin ROMAN,
London © 2014 Copyright Constantin ROMAN, Londres

Poetry in Translation (CCCXIII): Eric Arthur BLAIR, aka George ORWELL (1903 India – 1950 England), INDIA/ENGLAND – “Prostitution”, “Prostituţie”

January 13th, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXIII): Eric Arthur BLAIR, aka George ORWELL (1903 India – 1950 England), INDIA/ENGLAND – “Prostitution”, “Prostituţie” · Books, Famous People, OPINION, PEOPLE, Poetry, POLITICAL DETENTION / DISSENT, quotations

When I was young and had no sense,
In far-off Mandalay,
I lost my heart to a Burmese girl
As lovely as the day.

Her skin was gold, her hair was jet,
Her teeth were ivory;
I said, “for twenty silver pieces,
Maiden, sleep with me”.

She looked at me, so pure, so sad,
The loveliest thing alive,
And in her lisping, virgin voice,
Stood out for twenty-five.

Poetry in Translation (CCCXII): T. S. ELIOTT (1888-1965), U.S.A. / ENGLAND – “Lune de miel”, “Luna de miere”

January 3rd, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXII): T. S. ELIOTT (1888-1965), U.S.A. / ENGLAND – “Lune de miel”, “Luna de miere” · Books, Diaspora, Famous People, International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

Ils vont prendre le train de huit heures
Prolonger leurs misères de Padoue à Milan
Ou se trouvent le Cène, et un restaurant pas cher.

Apoi vor prinde trenul, la opt şi jumătate,
Târându-şi, greu, suflarea, din Sud înspre Milano,
La Cina cea de Taină şi un meniu mai ieftin.

Poetry in Translation (CCCXI): Radu GIR (1905-1975), ROMANIA – Poet of the Romanian Communist Prisons, “Întrebare ”, “Question”

January 2nd, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXI): Radu GIR (1905-1975), ROMANIA – Poet of the Romanian Communist Prisons, “Întrebare ”, “Question” · Communist Prisons, Famous People, History, PEOPLE, Poetry, POLITICAL DETENTION / DISSENT, quotations

Radu GYR
Poet of the Romanian Communist Prisons
Mă-ntorc spre ea cu sânge în cuvânt
Şi-n ochii lui Iisus e numai pace.
Întreb: -Tu eşti? Şi umbra spune: -Sânt.
I turn to it, with all my hope, reborn,
As Jesus Christ inspires utter Peace…
I ask: that’s you, Milord? He says: I am, my Son!

Poetry in Translation (CCCX): Attila ILHAN (1925-2005), TURKEY: “Illicit love”, “Iubire ilicită”

January 2nd, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCX): Attila ILHAN (1925-2005), TURKEY: “Illicit love”, “Iubire ilicită” · Famous People, PEOPLE, Poetry, POLITICAL DETENTION / DISSENT, quotations, Translations

come through my other door you cannot open this
come with your former eyes come at the time to kill
and be vigilant lest someone should follow you

vino prin uşa cealaltă, nu vei putea deschide uşa asta
vino cu ceilalţi ochi vino când vei avea timp destul
şi fii atent ca nu cumva să te urmărească cineva

Poetry in Translation (CCCIX), Charles Hubert SISSON (1914 –2003), ENGLAND, “Finale”, “Final”

January 2nd, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCIX), Charles Hubert SISSON (1914 –2003), ENGLAND, “Finale”, “Final” · PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

Nothing means anything now:
I am alone
— My mind a vacant space,
My heart of stone.

Nimic nu mai contează
Singur sunt
Memoria’m pierdut
Viaţa să-nfrunt.

Poetry in Translation (CCCVIII): Christina ROSSETTI (1830-1894), ENGLAND, “HE and SHE”, “EL şi EA”

January 1st, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCVIII): Christina ROSSETTI (1830-1894), ENGLAND, “HE and SHE”, “EL şi EA” · Poetry, quotations, Translations

“Should one of us remember,
And one of us forget,
I promise you what I will do—
And I’m content to wait for you,
And not be sure as yet.”

De ne vom aminti cândva,
Căci unul dintre noi, poate-ar uita,
Eu o să-ţi spun ce-aşi face:
Aşi fi felice să te-aştept,
Dar încă nu o pot s-o cred.

Centre for Romanian Studies