2015 February

Entries from February 26th, 2015

Poetry in Translation (CCCXXV), Constantin ROMAN, ENGLAND / ROMANIA: “Chelsea Bridge”

February 26th, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXXV), Constantin ROMAN, ENGLAND / ROMANIA: “Chelsea Bridge” · PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations, Uncategorized

Now I shall seek endlessly
the streets where we walked together
I will drag along my fading dreams
starting at Chelsea Bridge
(Constantin ROMAN, ENGLAND / ROMANIA: “Chelsea Bridge”)
(Poetry: Centre for Romanian Studies – London)

Constantin ROMAN: “Voices & Shadows of the Carpathians” – Part 2 of 2

February 22nd, 2015 · 3 Comments · Books, Diary, Diaspora, Famous People, OPINION, PEOPLE, quotations

“His dutiful, zealous iconoclasm, his personal cultural revolution, his damage to Romania’s cultural heritage were all adequately recompensed by his masters, both overt and covert: Ceausescu’s shadow was cast large, well after his demise, it was functioning very well, according to the same tenets of “cultural demonology.”

Constantin ROMAN: “Voices & Shadows of the Carpathians” Postface (Part 1 of 2)

February 20th, 2015 · Comments Off on Constantin ROMAN: “Voices & Shadows of the Carpathians” Postface (Part 1 of 2) · Books, Diaspora, Famous People, International Media, PEOPLE, quotations

“Now, I am a person who likes simple words. It is true, I had realised before this journey that there was much evil and injustice in the world that I had now left, but I had believed I could shake the foundations if I called things by their proper name. I knew such an enterprise meant returning to absolute naiveté. This naiveté I considered as a primal vision purified of the slag of centuries of hoary lies about the world.” (Paul Celan)

Poetry in Translation (CCCXXIV), “Păstorel” TEODOREANU (1894-1964), ROMANIA: “Sadoveanu”, in Romanian, English & French verse

February 19th, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXXIV), “Păstorel” TEODOREANU (1894-1964), ROMANIA: “Sadoveanu”, in Romanian, English & French verse · Diaspora, Famous People, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

Sadoveanu filo-Rus,
Stă cu curul spre Apus:
Ca s-arate-Apusului
Care-i fața Rusului”.

Sadoveanu’s Russian farse,
To the West it turned its arse,
To show to the Allied Press
What’s the Russians real face.

Sadoveanu, filo-Russe,
A devoilé son anus:
Pour montrer à l’Occident
Le visage d’un Russe brillant.

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Tags:Romania·Russia·sadoveanu

Poetry in Translation (CCCXXIII): Alberto BEVILACQUA (1934, Parma – 2013, Roma), EMILIA ROMAGNA / ITALY – “Anima amante”, “Suflet Îndrăgostit”, “Falling in Love”

February 17th, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXXIII): Alberto BEVILACQUA (1934, Parma – 2013, Roma), EMILIA ROMAGNA / ITALY – “Anima amante”, “Suflet Îndrăgostit”, “Falling in Love” · Famous People, International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

My soul had fallen in love by mistake on a diary page from faraway lands maybe you will belong to me because I could have anybody and it’s not absolutely necessary to have you my taste is different we shall try to speed up Eternity to enjoy a few moments.

Poetry in translation (CCCXXII): Ion MINULESCU (1881– 1944), (ROMANIA) – “Rugă pentru Duminica Floriilor”, “Palm Sunday Prayer”

February 14th, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in translation (CCCXXII): Ion MINULESCU (1881– 1944), (ROMANIA) – “Rugă pentru Duminica Floriilor”, “Palm Sunday Prayer” · Books, Famous People, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

A glittering pearl necklace, made of sunflower seeds,
A double-winged Pegasus out of a humble bee …
Forgive me, though, dear Father, of this – mine foolish jest,
To have imagined Thee –
As I thought might be best…
But the World was too pallid, than I thought it might be.
My Lord, sprinkle my eyebrows, with drops of holly sea.
Chastise my sinful body,
Behold my tongue of python,
Remove the foolish demon, that pronounced the unheard.
Do give zest to my body, depicted in Your icon…
To forget I was ever beholden by Thy word!

Rendered in English from the original Romanian verse: by Constantin ROMAN, London
© 2015 Copyright Constantin ROMAN, London

Poetry in translation (CCCXXI): Constantin ROMAN (ENGLAND) – “In Memoriam”

February 13th, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in translation (CCCXXI): Constantin ROMAN (ENGLAND) – “In Memoriam” · Diaspora, International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, Translations

IN MEMORIAM
We shall remain prostrate by Gravity
And our latent self-esteem,
As we will lose all our levity
And the professional pipe dream…
Don’t cry, you, milligal and lonely oersted,
As the old man died, with alacrity.
Therefore, we shall stampede, in earnest,
To grab his seat, at the Academy.
But, mindful of the world’s Ecology,
We’ll mummify his body for the Nations,
To be preserved for future generations
And be admired by Humanity.
And as we’ll find him pickled, in preserves,
Displayed amongst the vile orangutans,
We shall forgive him his shenanigans,
To grant him the respect that he deserves.

Poetry in Translation (CCCXX): George TOPÂRCEANU (1886-1937), ROMANIA – “L’âne philosophe”, “Măgarul filosof”, “The Philosopher Ass”

February 8th, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXX): George TOPÂRCEANU (1886-1937), ROMANIA – “L’âne philosophe”, “Măgarul filosof”, “The Philosopher Ass” · Diaspora, Famous People, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

Un jeune âne amoureux d’une noble cavale,
Lui demanda la main (le sabot de devant).
— Mais… vous êtes du peuple, et moi — je suis pur sang,
Je vous ferai cocu! lui promit-elle.
— J’avale
Tout ce que vous voudrez! dit l’âne sans émoi,
Car…
Moralité:
Promettre c’est noble, tenir serait bourgeois…

Poetry in Translation (CCCXIX): Rudyard KIPLING (1865-1936), ENGLAND – “Mother o’ Mine”, “O, mamă, dulce mamă!”

February 5th, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXIX): Rudyard KIPLING (1865-1936), ENGLAND – “Mother o’ Mine”, “O, mamă, dulce mamă!” · Famous People, Poetry, quotations, Translations

If I were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

If I were drowned in the deepest sea,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!
I know whose tears would come down to me,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

If I were damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o’ mine, O, mother o’ mine!

Dac-al meu trup şi suflet în gheenă ar fi,
Numai ruga ta, mamă, m-ar putea mântui.

O, mamă, dulce mamă!

Poetry in Translation (CCCXVIII): Marjorie Lowry Christie PICKTHALL (1883-1922), ENGLAND/CANADA – “Marching Men”, “Soldaţi”

February 3rd, 2015 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCCXVIII): Marjorie Lowry Christie PICKTHALL (1883-1922), ENGLAND/CANADA – “Marching Men”, “Soldaţi” · Books, Famous People, International Media, OPINION, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

Under the level winter sky
I saw a thousand Christs go by.
They sang an idle song and free
As they went up to calvary.

Careless of eye and coarse of lip,
They marched in holiest fellowship.
That heaven might heal the world, they gave
Their earth-born dreams to deck the grave.

With souls unpurged and steadfast breath
They supped the sacrament of death.
And for each one, far off, apart,
Seven swords have rent a woman’s heart.
În iarna cerului de plumb,
Văzut-am mii de sfinţi trecând.
Cântau un imn să uite-amarul,
Purtând, cu fruntea sus, calvarul.

Centre for Romanian Studies