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Poetry in Translation (XIX & XX): Abu NUWAS (756-810), Doua Poeme

March 25th, 2005 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (XIX & XX): Abu NUWAS (756-810), Doua Poeme · PEOPLE, Poetry, Translations

DOUA POEME de ABU NUWAS
(Ahwaz, 756 – Bagdad, 810)
Poet classic Arab de la Curtea lui Harun al-Rashid

Am aruncat, si de-apururea voi arunca
In cele patru vânturi talerii si zeii de lut.
In ziua când mà voi infàtisa Tie,
Voi musca din fructul interzis
Si voi intoarce capul din fata celui dàruit.

.o.O.I.O.o.

Iubite, am câstigat libertatea,
Când mi-am vândut crezul pentru o desfàtare.
Mi-am dat frâu liber sufletului
Si-n nici un fel nu voi mai ingràdi plàcerea.

(Abu Nuwas, in Romaneste de Constantin Roman,
dupa versiunea engleza a lui Philip Kennedy, pp 220-221)

NOTITA BIOGRAFICA:

ABU NUWAS [Abu,Ah Hal-asan ibn Hani’al-Hakami] (c. 756-810) este recunoscut ca cel mai mare poet classic Arab din timpul Califului Harun al-Rashid al carui favorit era si apoi al succesorului lui, Abu’Ubaida.

Fiu al unui soldat din Damasc, casatorit cu o Persana, Abu Nuwas a studiat la Basra si Kufa, dupa care a petrecut un an cu nomazii Arabi pentru a invata o limba araba pura, care a reusit sa o stapaneasca la un inalt grad de rafinament: aceasta i-a permis geniului sau sa supravietuiasca timpului si sa continue, pana in ziua de azi, sa fie citat de expertii culturii arabe. Viata sa a fost caracterizata de o licentiozitate extrema si de un nonconformism religios, ca sa sfarseasca, pana la urma, in asceza.

Poemele lui Abu Nuwas sunt inspirate din experienta vietii sale de tinerete si maturitate, reflectand geniul, cinismul si modul de viata al inaltei societati din Bagdad, mai ales in versurile sale Bahice.
Unul din cele mai importante manuscrise, cuprinzand peste 5.000 de poeme ale lui Abu Nuwas se afla la Biblioteca Nationala din Viena si sunt structurate tematic, in zece parti despre: Vin, Vanatoare, Lauda, Satira, Iubire de efebi, Iubire de femei, Obscenitati, Vinovatie, Elegii, Lepadare de sine.

Volumul sau de poezii intitulat “Diwan” a fost publicat la Cairo (1860) si Beirut (1884), iar cantecele bahice au fost traduse in Germana si publicate de Ahlwardt sub titlul “Diwan de Abu Nuwas – Weinlieder” (1861). Philip Kennedy este unul din traducatorii Englezi ai poetului.

Diverse transliterari al numelui poetului, aflate in limbile Europene:
abunuwas, abu nuwsa, abun uwas, abu nuuwas, abu nwas, abu nwuas, abu nuws, abu nuwass, abu nuas, au nuwas, abu nuwa, abu uwas, aabu nuwas, abu nuaws, bau nuwas, abu nuwaas, abu unwas, abu nnuwas, ab unuwas, ab nuwas, abbu nuwas, aub nuwas, abuu nuwas, abu nuwwas, abu nuwas, bu nuwas.

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Poetry in Translation (XVI – XVII): Florenta ALBU (1934-2003) – “Left – Right …” & “Bucharest Carol”

July 11th, 2003 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (XVI – XVII): Florenta ALBU (1934-2003) – “Left – Right …” & “Bucharest Carol” · PEOPLE, Poetry, quotations

Florenta ALBU (1934-2003) – “Left – Right …”
Swimming in the mud
we are swimming in this historic misery of ours
and that fear
is shouting at us
from the sides
and from behind us
in an interminable rhythm – that silly continuous
left – right – left!

Whilst we – of old and of new
we dastardly exhausted cowards
sunken up to our ears asking
deafening questions
of ourselves, two by two
forward skew-whiff march
left – right – left!

What might be ahead of us
what might be behind us
how much longer till where
this march in the mud
a historical fear over and over again shouting
left – right – left!

Translated by Constantin ROMAN, July 2003
From the Anthology “Greenhouse effect” (Efectul de sera)(1987)

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Poetry in Translation (XIII – XV) – Kirmen URIBE (b. 1970) Poet Basc, “Nu ma face sa aleg” (Ez eman Hautatzeko): Trei poeme

June 23rd, 2003 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (XIII – XV) – Kirmen URIBE (b. 1970) Poet Basc, “Nu ma face sa aleg” (Ez eman Hautatzeko): Trei poeme · Poetry, Translations

Nu ma face sa aleg
Intre Mare si Uscat
Eu prefer sa traiesc pe coasta marii
Pe acea creasta de mal unde valurile se sbat
In suvita parului cazut de pe fruntea unui gigant ratacitor.

Ce imi place la Mare, este insasi inima ei,
Descumpanita, ca aceea a unui copilandru,
Cand furioasa, cand retragandu-se
In peisajii inimaginabile.
La Uscat, imi plac, totusi,
Acele maini uriase.

Nu ma face sa aleg
Intre Mare si Uscat.
Stiu prea bine ca vointa mea e doar un fir de ata subtire,
Dar as fi pierdut daca as ramane numai cu Marea
Retrasa complect, din Uscat.

Renunta la aceasta alegere. Eu voi ramane aici.
Intre valurile verzi si muntii albastri.

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POETRY IN TRANSLATION (XII): Dumitru Bacu (Vlach Poet) – “Grief”

February 23rd, 2003 · Comments Off on POETRY IN TRANSLATION (XII): Dumitru Bacu (Vlach Poet) – “Grief” · Diaspora, Poetry, Translations

“We do not grieve the wasted battles
Nor do we grieve the wounded chest
We grieve instead those arms in tatters,
Which cannot fight for want of rest.”

– – – – – – – – –
Note:
Dumitru Bacu, Political prisoner, Vlach Poet, Exile (“Pitesti”. Ed Atlantida, Bucharest,1991)
– – – – – – – – –
Translated from Romanian by:
Constantin Roman.

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POETRY IN TRANSLATION (XI): Rodica Draghincescu – “To Myself”

February 23rd, 2003 · Comments Off on POETRY IN TRANSLATION (XI): Rodica Draghincescu – “To Myself” · Diaspora, Poetry, Translations

POETRY IN TRANSLATION (I): Rodica Draghincescu – “To Myself”
At birth
I appeared
Already oppressed in an air cage..
How amazing, what riot of colours
A stupefied godmother!
Compassion drowned in tears
She had an indelible pen
And on her lips offered on credit
Hung a suspended smile
She gratified me with a scribbled digit
Which she marked, in consolation, on my back:
Girl, two kilos, odd number: thirty-nine
Strangled by the umbilical chord
Survival chance 26%, epidermal eruption
Talking to herself.’

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Poetry in Translation (X): Gabriela Melinescu – “Birth of Constellations”

February 18th, 2003 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (X): Gabriela Melinescu – “Birth of Constellations” · Books, PEOPLE, Poetry, Translations

“Others are born here on Earth, In a fresh scent of salt and milk. The buds burst out biting the twigs With the silky movement of the serpent. O, would my birth Be repeated again? With dilated pupils, o, breeze of pain, With white clouds will you pass over my face? Would you, one evening, […]

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Poetry in Translation (VIII): Ana Blandiana – “Morning Elegy”

February 18th, 2003 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (VIII): Ana Blandiana – “Morning Elegy” · Poetry, Translations

At the beginning I promised to say nothing, But later, in the morning I saw you coming past the gates with bags of ashes Scattering them as if one was sowing wheat. As I could no longer contain myself, I shouted: What are you doing? What are you doing? It is for you that I […]

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Poetry in Translation (II – VII): Marin Sorescu – “Ladder To Heaven” and five other poems

February 18th, 2003 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (II – VII): Marin Sorescu – “Ladder To Heaven” and five other poems · Poetry, Translations

LADDER TO HEAVEN by Marin SORESCU, translated by Constantin ROMAN A silk thread spun by a spider Is hanging from the ceiling Just above my bed. Every day I notice it Descending lower. Now I am even offered The ladder to Heaven – I say It comes from ‘up there’. Although I had lost weight […]

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Poetry in Translation (I): Ion Caraion – “Alone”

February 18th, 2003 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (I): Ion Caraion – “Alone” · Poetry, Translations

“Where are you going, Sir?
In the garden, my Dream.
To do what, Sir?
To be shot, my Dream.
‘cause they have bullets, Sir?
‘cause they have time, my Dream.”

– – – – – – – – –
Note:
Ion Caraion, (1923-1986), Poet, Essayist
(from “Am pe nimeni” – “I have nobody”)
– – – – – – – – –
Translated from Romanian by:
Constantin Roman.
– – – – – – – – –

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