A friend of mine asked me a favour to translate a poem written in Hungarian by one of her friends. I do not usually translate poems, apart from those I write - this request found me by surprise.
-
The title is Bravery - as is my action. Your comments are welcomed.-
Bravery
Definitions are lost.
My love, this is where we are -
Nothingness.
Poles and meat hooks.
Frozen kids emerging from stained loops.
To my table, you are invited,
see - I have no manners.
My head is turned
away with the shrubs upon your plate
no one is supposed to
order.
Come, come into the woods,
let the rain wash us through the dirt
A stillness waits where
hedgehogs rush
from swamps -
and no questions are needed
7 megjegyzés:
One English peculiarity--nobody is one word, but no one is two. I think it's because of the double o, which would mean it would be pronounced like "noon."
Your translation made me think of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, especially the last stanza. There's a kind of logical absurdity that reminds me of Ferlinghetti and the Beats.
Thank you Steve, I will adjust the spelling to no one.
I guess I've just followed the way the words 'someone' and 'anyone' are written.
I have not heard of the person you mentioned, but that's what google is for :)
There was a certain kind of absurdity throughout the whole poem, though.
It was quite a challenge.
Lisa had posted a Chagall painting on her Facebook page, and it reminded me of this--so I've got Felinghetti on the brain:
************************
Don’t let that horse
eat that violin
cried Chagall’s mother
But he
kept right on
painting
And became famous
And kept on painting
The Horse With Violin In Mouth
And when he finally finished it
he jumped up upon the horse
and rode away
waving the violin
And then with a low bow gave it
to the first naked nude he ran across
And there were no strings
attached.
************************
The arrangement on the page is a little different.
How interesting... I like it!
And now I'll have to find out about Lawrence Ferlinghetti too. :-)
I'm not sure I understand it, but it definitely evokes a dark mood. I love the last line in particular.
wow, thanks Steve, for the experience. Strange, indeed.
Vesper and Chris,
I'm glad you somehow liked it. There is a definite dark feeling behind the lines...that was what I was trying to convey.
Szelsofa - I've missed my friends.
Come visit me.
Megjegyzés küldése