classic poetry

Life / Viata

POSTED IN classic poetry, translated English-Romanian February 7, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life

 

 

My life closed twice before its close;

It yet remains to see

If Immortality unveil

A third event to me,

 

 

So huge, so hopeless to conceive,

As these that twice befell.

Parting is all we know of heaven,

And all we need of hell.

 

 

 

Emily Dickinson

………………………………………………………………..

Viata

 

De doua ori cortina a cazut

ramâne a se vedea

de Nemurirea pe-a mea scena

un act trei va juca,

 

un act prea greu de conceput

ca cele de-altadat’,

Plecarea-i tot ce stim de Rai,

si tot ce vrem din Iad.

 

 

 

Romanian version, Maria Magdalena Biela

Oda (in metru antic) / Ode (in antique meter)

POSTED IN classic poetry, translated Romanian-English February 6, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oda (in metru antic)

Nu credeam să-nvăţ a muri vrodată;
Pururi tânăr, înfăşurat în manta-mi,
Ochii mei nălţam visători la steaua
Sîngurătăţii.

Când deodată tu răsărişi în cale-mi,
Suferinţă tu, dureros de dulce…
Pân-în fund băui voluptatea morţii
Ne’ndurătoare.

Jalnic ard de viu chinuit ca Nessus.
Ori ca Hercul înveninat de haina-i;
Focul meu a-l stinge nu pot cu toate
Apele mării.

De-al meu propriu vis, mistuit mă vaiet,
Pe-al meu propriu rug, mă topesc în flăcări…
Pot să mai re’nviu luminos din el ca
Pasărea Phoenix?

Piară-mi ochii turburători din cale,
Vino iar în sân, nepăsare tristă;
Ca să pot muri liniştit, pe mine
Mie redă-mă!
Mihai Eminescu
………………………………………
Ode (in antique meter)

 

Didn’t believe I’d ever learn to die;
Ever young, veiled in my toga,
My dreamy eyes I always raised to the star
Of solitude.

When suddenly you emerged in my way,
deep agony, you, painfully sweet…
I drank to the bottom the voluptuousness of death
merciless.

Doleful I burn alive tortured like Nessus.
Or like Hercules poisoned by his tunic;
My ardor to quench I cannot with all
waters of the sea.

Devoured by my own dream, I sigh and moan,
On my own pyre, I am melting in flames…
May I resurrect luminous from it, like
the Phoenix Bird?

Perish from my way the bewildering eyes,
Return to my heart, sweet indifference;
So I can peacefully die,
To me myself return!

English version, Maria Magdalena Biela

A song

POSTED IN classic poetry, translated English-Romanian February 5, 2018

 

A song

I wish you were here, dear,
I wish you were here.
I wish you sat on the sofa
and I sat near.
the handkerchief could be yours,
the tear could be mine, chin-bound.
Though it could be, of course,
the other way around.

 

I wish you were here, dear
I wish you were here.
I wish we were in my car,
and you’d shift the gear.
we’d find ourselves elsewhere,
on an unknown shore.
Or else we’d repair
To where we’ve been before.

 

I wish you were here, dear,
I wish you were here.
I wish I knew no astronomy
when stars appear,
when the moon skims the water
that sighs and shifts in its slumber.
I wish it were still a quarter
to dial your number.

 

I wish you were here, dear,
in this hemisphere,
as I sit on the porch
sipping a beer.
It’s evening, the sun is setting;
boys shout and gulls are crying.
What’s the point of forgetting
If it’s followed by dying?
Joseph Brodsky
…………………………………..
Un cantec

Sa fii aici as vrea, draga mea
Sa fii aici as vrea.
As vrea ca eu sa pot sta
langa tine pe canapea.
Batista ar putea fi a ta
lacrima ar putea fi a mea, pe barbie
desi desigur s-ar putea
si invers sa fie.

 

Sa fii aici as vrea, draga mea
Sa fii aici as vrea.
as vrea sa fim in masina
si tu viteza ai schimba.
Altundeva ne-am putea regasi
pe-un tarm necunoscut
de nu, am putea reveni
la locul doar de noi stiut.

 

Sa fii aici as vrea, draga mea
Sa fii aici as vrea.
as vrea sa nu stiu astronomie
cand stelele-ar aparea
cand luna cutremura apa invinsa
ce ofteaza foind in somn bun
as vrea ca luna sa fie o fisa
telefonul sa-ti sun.

 

Sa fii aici , draga mea, as vrea
Sa fii in emisfera mea.
eu stand  pe veranda
o bere as savura..
E seara, soarele-asfinteste ;
baietii si pescarusii tipa.
uitarea ce sens mai meneste
daca in moarte totul se-nfiripa ?

In romaneste, Maria Magdalena Biela

Happy Anniversary, Mihai Eminescu!

POSTED IN classic poetry, Winter 2018 January 15, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Varpunen jouluaamuna / The sparrow in the Cristmas morning

POSTED IN classic poetry, Music, translated Finnish-English December 16, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Varpunen jouluaamuna / The sparrow in the Cristmas morning

 

Lumi on jo peittänyt kukat laaksosessa,
järvenaalto jäätynyt talvipakkasessa,
varpunen pienoinen syönyt kesäeinehen,
järvenaalto jäätynyt talvipakkasessa.

Pienen pirtin portailla oli tyttökulta:
Tule varpu, riemulla, ota siemen multa!
Joulu on, koditon varpuseni onneton,
tule tänne riemulla, ota siemen multa!

Tytön luo nyt riemuiten lensi varpukulta:
Kiitollisna siemenen otan kyllä sulta.
Palkita Jumala tahtoo kerran sinua.
Kiitollisna siemenen ota kyllä sulta.

En mä ole, lapseni, lintu tästä maasta.
Olen pieni veljesi, tulin taivahasta.
Siemenen pienoisen, jonka annoit köyhällen,
pieni sai sun veljesi enkeleitten maasta.

………………………………………………………………………

 

The Sparrow in the Christmas morning

 

Snow already covered all in the valley yonder
frozen is the wave of lake in the frost of winter.
Little sparrow sweet and good
eaten up his summer food.
Frozen is the wave of lake in the frost of winter.

 

On the stairs of little house stood a girl who plead:
Come dear sparrow and with joy take from me a seed!
It’s Christmas now and here
sparrow without home and cheer.
Come dear sparrow and with joy take from me a seed!

 

To the girl’s feet filled with joy flew the darling sparrow:
Gratefully I take from you seed of blood and marrow.
God will pay you threefold
darling girl with soul of gold.
Gratefully I take from you seed of blood and marrow.

Dear child I’m not a bird from this world of strangers
I’m your little brother dead coming from the heavens.
When you fed the poor in need
you gave me a little seed.
I’m your little brother dead from the land of angels.

 

Zacharias Topelius

 

English version, Maria Magdalena Biela

Happy Independence Day, Finland! SUOMI 100!

POSTED IN classic poetry, essays December 6, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Independence Day, Finland! SUOMI 100!

PYHÄ SYNNYINMAA

Sua muistamme ain, pyhä syntymämaa,
mikä lieneekin toimemme, työmme,
ylin onni Sa oot, minkä ihminen saa,
elon aurinko, tähtönen yömme;
Sun korpies kuisketta kuulimme lasna,
sitä unhota emme me harmajahasna,
Sun valtaasi tahdomme vahvistaa,
Sua lempien leipääsi syömme.
Oli kielesi kirkkaus jo vertaamaton,
kun soi sitä äiteimme huulet,
sen kauneus nyt karttunut, varttunut on,
tänä päivänä kun sitä kuulet:
se kaikuu nyt huipuilta valtion vapaan,
mut kaikuvi maammojen, taattojen tapaan,
käy tietona, taitona taistelohon,
miten muuttuukin maailman tuulet.

Ja mielesi meille se suurna jo soi,
kun orjuus uhkasi maata,
se rintaamme rautaa ja rakkautta loi,
jok’ ei konsana sammua saata;
kun vallitsi kerskaten keisarivalta
ja uhrinsa otti jo orttemme alta,
me tunsimme: et sitä sietää Sa voi,
jos tahdo et voimasta laata.

Siks syöksyimme kuin sinivirtaisi vyöt,
siks seisoimme kuin valon vahdit,
siks tulta ne tuprusi pohjolan yöt,
soi mielten ja miekkojen tahdit,
mut Sulta me tahtomme, tarmomme haimme,
Sult’ yksin me voimamme, voittomme saimme,
Sun hangistas nous unet, urhojen työt,
nous taattojen, maammojen mahdit.

Ylt’ympäri Sun, nyt katso ja nää,
pyhä lippusi pystynä liehuu,
voi leijona viirinä lennähtää,
jos taas kirot sortajan kiehuu,
mut muuten se vapauden, rauhan on vaate,
kuin risti sen rinnassa rakkauden aate,
jos ei sitä turmele tuuliaispää,
ei riitojen myrsky, mi riehuu.

Valan vannomme juurella viirisi sen
yht’ olla ain kansaa maamme,
tätä heimoa pohjolan pakkasien,
min tuskat ja riemut me jaamme,
mi talvessa taistellen itsensä nosti,
mi kalliisti kalleimman onnen sen osti
nyt seisoa parvessa parhaiden,
jost’ ylpeät olla me saamme!

Suomen Tasavallan itsenäisyyspäivänä 6.12.1919.

EINO LEINO

La sorella della vita

POSTED IN classic poetry September 28, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La sorella della vita – Sora vietii

 

Cu nimic nu se aseamana viata asa cum ii seamănă mortii.
Este sora ei. Nici o diferentă.
O iei de mână, ii asezi părul, o mângâi.
Ea iti dăruieste o floare si iti zâmbeste.
Ii ascunzi fata la piept
si-i auzi vocea : să mergem, este timpul.
Dar nu-ti vorbeste despre o deosebire.
Moartea nu se asază cu fata la pământ
verde si alba, si nu se culca într-un cosciug
alb. Se întoarce cu o figură imbietoare
ca să vorbească cu toată lumea.
Are trasaturi delicate si o fată dulce.
Maini usoare, tăiate în inima ta.
Cine simte în inimă acea mână
usoara nu mai ajunge să-l încălzească soarele.
Este la fel de rece ca gheata, si fără dragoste.

 

Edith Sodergran

 

In romaneste, Catalina Franco
………………………………………………………
A niente come alla morte rassomiglia la vita.
E’ sua sorella. Senza differenze.
La prendi per mano, le lisci i capelli, le fai una carezza.
Lei ti regala un fiore e ti sorride.
Le nascondi la faccia dentro il petto
e senti la sua voce: andiamo, e’ l’ora.
Ma non ti parla di una differenza.
La morte non si stende faccia a terra
verde e bianca, o supina in una bara
bianca. Va in giro con un volto vivido
a parlare con tutti.
Ha tratti delicati, e un volto tenero.
Mani lievi, posate sul tuo cuore.
Chi si sente sul cuore quella lieve
mano, non giunge piu’ a scaldarlo, il sole.
E’ freddo come il ghiaccio, e senza amore.

 

 

L.Koch, Italian version

 

 

 

Ma vie c’est toi

POSTED IN classic poetry September 17, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Et si tu n’existais pas

 

Et si tu n’existais pas
Dis-moi pourquoi j’existerais
Pour traîner dans un monde sans toi
Sans espoir et sans regret.
Et si tu n’existais pas
J’essaierais d’inventer l’amour
Comme un peintre qui voit sous ses doigts
Naître les couleurs du jour
Et qui n’en revient pas.

Et si tu n’existais pas
Dis-moi pour qui j’existerais
Des passantes endormies dans mes bras
Que je n’aimerais jamais.
Et si tu n’existais pas
Je ne serais qu’un point de plus
Dans ce monde qui vient et qui va
Je me sentirais perdu.

J’aurais besoin de toi

Et si tu n’existais pas
Dis-moi comment j’existerais
Je pourrais faire semblant d’être moi
Mais je ne serais pas vrai.

Et si tu n’existais pas
Je crois que je l’aurais trouvé
Le secret de la vie, le pourquoi
Simplement pour te créer
Et pour te regarder.

Et si tu n’existais pas
Dis-moi pourquoi j’existerais
Pour traîner dans un monde sans toi
Sans espoir et sans regret.
Et si tu n’existais pas
J’essaierais d’inventer l’amour
Comme un peintre qui voit sous ses doigts
Naître les couleurs du jour
Et qui n’en revient pas.

 

 

Joe Dassin

The Autumn

POSTED IN classic poetry September 1, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Autumn

 

 
Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.
The summer sun is faint on them —
The summer flowers depart —
Sit still — as all transform’d to stone,
Except your musing heart.
How there you sat in summer-time,
May yet be in your mind;
And how you heard the green woods sing
Beneath the freshening wind.
Though the same wind now blows around,
You would its blast recall;
For every breath that stirs the trees,
Doth cause a leaf to fall.

Oh! like that wind, is all the mirth
That flesh and dust impart:
We cannot bear its visitings,
When change is on the heart.
Gay words and jests may make us smile,
When Sorrow is asleep;
But other things must make us smile,
When Sorrow bids us weep!

The dearest hands that clasp our hands, —
Their presence may be o’er;
The dearest voice that meets our ear,
That tone may come no more!
Youth fades; and then, the joys of youth,
Which once refresh’d our mind,
Shall come — as, on those sighing woods,
The chilling autumn wind.

Hear not the wind — view not the woods;
Look out o’er vale and hill-
In spring, the sky encircled them —
The sky is round them still.
Come autumn’s scathe — come winter’s cold —
Come change — and human fate!
Whatever prospect Heaven doth bound,
Can ne’er be desolate.

 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Mary Magdalene

POSTED IN classic poetry July 22, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• «
• ‹
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• ›
• »