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Entries Tagged as 'poem'

Poetry in Translation (CCXXVII): Theo DORGAN, (b. 1953, Cork), IRELAND, “A Slow Poem”, “Sfială”

November 22nd, 2013 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCXXVII): Theo DORGAN, (b. 1953, Cork), IRELAND, “A Slow Poem”, “Sfială” · International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

I place my finger with great care
on the sleeping magnificent body of my beloved.
The room is quiet and huge, the air still, so still
I hear dust motes falling like leaves on the counterpane.

I stop my breathing and she fills me up
with swell of breath, the rise and fall of tides
so quiet and silver there, I am carried up and out of touch;

and she is far below me, curled into me,
her skin sufficient boundary, her dreams and trouble stilled.
Her troubles become diamond in my chest, I tip and balance

here beneath the ceiling, full of airy, thoughtful love, then fall
as slowly as leaves falling on a field,
until I settle there beside her, breathing her breath.

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Poetry in Translation (CCXXV): ANONYMOUS British Poet, “If only … ”, “De aş fi doar…”

November 18th, 2013 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCXXV): ANONYMOUS British Poet, “If only … ”, “De aş fi doar…” · Diaspora, International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

If only …
(British Anonymous)

If only I were a mint leaf,
in your cocktail glass,
I would add freshness
to your eyes…

If only I were a glazed cherry,
adding a touch of colour,
I would bring a sweet-bitter taste
to your palate …

If I were a bitter lemon
in your signature cocktail,
I would add a touch of reality
to our stormy Love …

If I were an ice cube,
cajoled in your shaker,
I would extinguish the fire
of your burning desire …

If only …

(Collected by Constantin ROMAN, London,
© 2013, Copyright Constantin ROMAN)

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Poetry in Translation (CCXXIII): ANONYMOUS, BRITISH Poet, “Lament”

November 15th, 2013 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCXXIII): ANONYMOUS, BRITISH Poet, “Lament” · Diaspora, International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations

LAMENT

Gone are the hopes
In morning’s mist,
Unfolding
London’s spell,
In all my dreams.
Of days gone bye,
Am longing
More and more…
Of our trysts
Do hope, in vain,
In one more night
Of love!

(Chelsea, November 16)

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Poetry in Translation (CCXXI): Anonymous, British Author, “Follow Your Path”

November 10th, 2013 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CCXXI): Anonymous, British Author, “Follow Your Path” · Diaspora, International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

To G.A.
Follow Your Path

Please, just follow your path,
In these sorrowful moments,
Which are, often, so brittle.
Yet, reflect our Love!

For I hope you will worship
Our wonderful longings,
Though we live in the Present,
Just to steal passing Dreams.

Whilst you’ll reach newer Havens,
Leaving the Past behind you,
I shall still be your beacon
Lighting your Road ahead!

As I’ll shepherd your Yearnings,
Striving for new Horizons,
I shall beg now to snuffle
All I cherished in you!

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Poetry in Translation (CXCVI): Eeva-Liisa MANNER, (1921 – 1995), FINLAND, “Assimilation”, “Integrare”

June 22nd, 2013 · No Comments · International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

I will show you a way
that I have traveled.

If you come
If you come back some day
searching for me

do you see how everything shifts
a little every moment
and becomes less pretentious
and more primitive
(like pictures drawn by children
or early forms of life:
the soul’s alphabet)
you will come to a warm region
it is soft and hazy
but then I will no longer be me,
but the forest.
Îţi voi arăta drumul
care l-am urmat.

Dacă vei veni
Dacă vei veni într-o zi înapoi
căutându-mă
oare vezi cum lucrurile se schimbă
câte un pic în fiecare clipă
ca să devină mai puţin pretenţioase
şi mai naive
(aidoma desenelor de copii
sau formelor de viaţă primitive:
un alfabet al sufletului).
O să vii pe meleaguri calde
un aer blând în ceaţă
dar atunci eu nu voi mai fi eu,
ci doar codrul.

(Rendered in Romanian by Constantin ROMAN, London,
© 2013 Copyright Constantin ROMAN)

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Poetry in Translation (CXCV): Rudyard KIPLING (1865 – 1935), ENGLAND “If”, “Dacă, doar…”, “Si”, “Tu seras un Homme, mon fils”

June 21st, 2013 · No Comments · Diaspora, International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, Translations

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

Dacă doar capul ţi-ai păstra, când toţi din jurul tău
L-ar pierde, dară vina lor în cârcă ţi-ar urca;
Dacă nădejdea ţi-ai păstra, când toţi s-ar îndoi,
Scuzându-se la nesfârşit, în îndoiala lor:
De-ai aştepta fără să fii trudit,
Mereu minţit, fără să poţi minţi,
Atunci când lumea te-ar urî, fără să poţi urî,
Si fără să te-mpăunezi, sau să te dai viteaz;

Rendered in Romanian by Constantin ROMAN, London,
© 2013 Copyright Constantin ROMAN

Si entre la turba das a la virtud abrigo;
si, marchando con reyes del orgullo has triunfado;
si no pueden herirte ni amigo ni enemigo;
si eres bueno con todos, pero no demasiado,
si puedes llenar los preciosos minutos
con sesenta segundos de combate bravío,
tuya es la Tierra y todos sus codiciados frutos,
y lo que más importa: ¡serás hombre, hijo mío!”
© Dra. Gloria M. Sánchez Zeledón de Norris Yoyita.

Si tu peux rencontrer Triomphe après Défaite
Et recevoir ces deux menteurs d’un même front,
Si tu peux conserver ton courage et ta tête
Quand tous les autres les perdront,

Alors les Rois, les Dieux, la Chance et la Victoire
Seront à tous jamais tes esclaves soumis,
Et, ce qui vaut mieux que les Rois et la Gloire
Tu seras un homme, mon fils.

(traduit de l’anglais par André Maurois)

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Poetry in Translation (CLXII): Lucian BLAGA (1895 – 1961), “J’ai compris le péché qui pèse sur ma maison” , “The sin that burdens my house”

January 26th, 2013 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CLXII): Lucian BLAGA (1895 – 1961), “J’ai compris le péché qui pèse sur ma maison” , “The sin that burdens my house” · Poetry, quotations, Translations

J’ai compris le péché qui pèse sur ma maison
Lucian BLAGA (1895 – 1961)

J’ai compris le péché qui pèse sur ma maison
comme une mousse ancestrale.
Oh, pourquoi ai-je interprété les temps et le zodiaque
autrement que la vieille qui rouit le chanvre dans l’étang?
Pourquoi ai-je désiré un autre sourire que celui du tailleur de pierre
qui fait jaillir des étincelles au bord du chemin?
Pourquoi ai-je aspiré à un autre sort
dans le monde des sept jours
que celui du sonneur de cloches qui conduit les morts au ciel?
Passant, donne-moi ta main, et toi qui t’en vas
et toi qui viens.
Tous les troupeaux de la terre ont des auréoles saintes
au dessus de leurs têtes.
C’est ainsi que je m’aime dorénavant:
un parmi beaucoup d’autres
En Français par Constantin ROMAN
Bucarest 1967, Londres, 2013

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Poetry in Translation (CLI): Grigore VIERU (1935 – 2009), Bessarabia, Romania, now Republic of Moldova – “Salvati-vă prin limbă”, “Survival through Native Tongue”

December 18th, 2012 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CLI): Grigore VIERU (1935 – 2009), Bessarabia, Romania, now Republic of Moldova – “Salvati-vă prin limbă”, “Survival through Native Tongue” · Diaspora, PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations, Translations

S-a otrăvit dulceaţa poamei
Şi laptele din sânii mamei.
S-a otrăvit barbar văzduhul
De ce s-a otrăvit şi duhul,
De ce şi graiul?!
Sculaţi-vă, sculaţi-vă, sculaţi-vă
Din somnul cel de moarte!
Salvaţi-vă, salvaţi-vă, salvaţi-vă
Prin limbă şi prin carte!

Grigore VIERU (1935-2009)

The fruit of the tree lost its zest
So has the milk from the mother’s breast.
The deadly sky is only doom.
But why should one poison the spirit,
And our tongue with it?
Arise, arise, arise,
From your mortal slumber!
Save your wits, save your wits, save your wits!
Keep your native tongue and your soul with it.

(Rendered in English from the Romanian original verse
by Constantin ROMAN, Londra,
© 2012, Copyright Constantin ROMAN)

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Poetry in Translation (CXLI): Parid TEFERICI (b. 1972, Albania), “ The Poet”, “Poetul”

November 10th, 2012 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CXLI): Parid TEFERICI (b. 1972, Albania), “ The Poet”, “Poetul” · International Media, Poetry, quotations, Translations

POETUL
Parid TEFERICI (b. 1972, Albania)
Mă împuşcă acolo unde nu sunt.
Se întâmplă chiar să-mi ridice braţul la masă
Să afle dacă nu mă ascund acolo.
Se întâmplă să lase să treacă
Omul care se grăbeşte să mă găsească
Se întâmplă chiar să imi dea foc
Ca să mă dibuie mai bine în întuneric.
Şi totuşi, deşi stau cu spatele la zid
Nu mă împuşcă.

(Rendered in Romanian
by Constantin ROMAN, London,
© 2012, Copyright Constantin ROMAN)

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Poetry in Translation (CXL): Hilaire BELLOC (1870-1953, British of French Extraction) “July”, “Iulie”

November 10th, 2012 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (CXL): Hilaire BELLOC (1870-1953, British of French Extraction) “July”, “Iulie” · Diaspora, International Media, PEOPLE, Poetry, Translations

Iulie (Hilaire BELLOC)

Monarhii se întorc din Cruciadă,
În falnică armată de creştini;
Oraşu-i surd în marş de cavalcadă;
Monarhii i-au învins pe Sarasini.
Cântând un imn străvechi din Răsărit,
În flota ce-a învins oceanul mare,
În galeoane valul au vâslit,
Orbind Mediterana cu-al lor Soare.

Iar cronica spunând cum au luptat,
Trecând deşertul în armura grea,
Rugat-am Domnul să-mi asculte imnul
Când toţi Normanzii au săltat in şea
Şi Godfrey-n toiul luptei, exaltat,
Cu Raymond, a cuprins Ierusalimul.
(Rendered in Romanian
by Constantin ROMAN, London,
© 2012, Copyright Constantin ROMAN)

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