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Open Poetry #44
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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2009-01-14 12:59 PM


DEUX HEURES DU MATIN À  MA FENÊTRE
4 January 1983

Le silence épais et le ciel presque noir
caressent les cimes de mes arbres
et je souris tristement sous tes caresses tendres
malgré la distance entre nous.

La lune pur luit comme un phare
et me chauffe au regard de tes yeux doux
dans les miens.

Les lumières accueillantes étincellent sur la colline
et je me demande s’il y a une lumière
qui brille dans une chambre …
d’une maison …
à un village …
sur une une petite île …
où habite …
Mon amour.

TWO O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING AT MY WINDOW

The thick silence and the nearly black sky
caress the tops of my trees
and I smile sadly under your tender caresses
in spite of the distance between us.

The moon glows like a lighthouse
and warms me with the glance of your gentle eyes
in mine.

The welcoming lights sparkle on the hill
and I ask myself if there is a light
which shines in a room…
in a house…
in a village…
on a little island…
where lives…
My Love.

Owl

© Copyright 2009 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved
Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
1 posted 2009-01-14 04:05 PM


C'est tendrement romantique, chère Diana!
Tout peut devenir réel dans le silence de la nuit.
I love it.
Hugs.
Margherita

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
2 posted 2009-01-14 04:46 PM


Merci beaucoup, Margherita.  C'est vrai, ce que tu dis du silence de la nuit.  Il y en a quelque chose de magique.  

Owl

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
3 posted 2009-01-14 04:59 PM


I am always in awe of those who are gifted
with the ability of languages...




Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
4 posted 2009-01-15 09:31 AM


Comme la nuit, il y a magique dans votre stylo, mon amie chere!

love and a hug,
Linda

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
5 posted 2009-01-15 11:09 AM


Thanks, Karilea.  I find languages such fun!

Merci beaucoup, tu me fais sourire de joie, ma chère Linda!

Owl

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
6 posted 2009-01-18 01:52 PM


I wish I knew French, I sure this must be just as wonderful in French.
                                Ida

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
7 posted 2009-01-18 04:27 PM


I sorta think the French version is a little better - and that most times, at least a little is lost in the tranlation, at least in my translations, anyway.  But thank you for enjoying the translation so much, Ida.  Yes, French is an exquisitely beautiful language, and I was fascinated by it long before I started learning it so I understand how you feel about wishing you knew it.  I got such a kick out of giving this rich language to my pupils when I was teaching French.  

Owl

secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !
8 posted 2009-01-18 08:12 PM


WHAT a grand-fine slice of Romanticism ...

particularly the ending:

"The welcoming lights sparkle on the hill
and I ask myself if there is a light
which shines in a room…
in a house…
in a village…
on a little island…
where lives…
My Love(!)"

quite serious and sustained applause for this 'penning'!

amusemi
Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1262
A State of Disarray
9 posted 2009-01-18 10:07 PM


This is truly beautiful!  
Marc-Andre
Senior Member
since 2008-12-07
Posts 501

10 posted 2009-01-18 10:14 PM


A very-well penned poem. I agree that the original French is better than its translation, though the latter isn't bad at all Translating poetry can be a hair-pulling exercise, I sometimes give it a try as a linguistic workout. I've posted one translation of Verlaine, it would be nice to have some feedback on it: /pip/Forum32/HTML/000241.html

Have a marvelous day! Mark

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia
11 posted 2009-01-19 06:27 AM


a most wonderful penning lovely Diana.. thank you for translating it for me... I do adore both versions though ..   RDB

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
12 posted 2009-01-19 01:18 PM


Thank you Bruce.  I am glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you amusemi.  

Thank you Mark/Marc-André.  I must admit that I don't really enjoy translating (my own poems - I haven't tried anyone else's).  I replied to your post of Paul Verlaine's "Les Ingénus" in your thread.  

You, too, have a marvelous day.

Thank you, Roniece.  I am glad you enjoyed both versions.

Owl

Bill Charles
Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
13 posted 2009-01-19 07:04 PM


Owl - written with a deep passion for romance. Liked this one a lot...

BC

vandana
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Patricius
since 1999-10-22
Posts 10463
USA
14 posted 2009-01-19 07:18 PM


good read
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
15 posted 2009-01-20 11:54 AM


Thank you, Bill.  I am glad you liked it.

Thank you, vandana.

Owl

suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
16 posted 2009-01-21 03:46 PM


How beautifully romantic! *S*

Thank you for the translation... this monolingual gal would have hated to miss this beauty! *S*

2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
17 posted 2009-01-21 05:09 PM


chapeau Owl, je trouve les deux premiers vers et la dernière strophe magnifiques, cette dernière strophe donne bien la distance et l'espérance que traduit ton poème....
je désire ajouter un petit mot:
dans la deuxième strophe, en français "au regard" signifie "en considérant que" et donc peut être pourrais tu écrire autre chose en  abandonnant la corrélation entre la lune et les yeux...Je te propose :
"La lune pure luit comme un phare.
je me chauffe de la douceur de tes yeux dans les miens"

j'espère que tu ne m'en voudras pas de t'avoir donner ces petits conseils car j'ai trouvé ton poème merveilleux...


have a nice day

yann

ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
18 posted 2009-01-21 05:22 PM


Mon comment romantique un rêveur vous êtes et je suis sûr qu'il viendra votre façon tout comme vous éloquemment le mettez si dans les mots.

Eric

poddarku
Senior Member
since 2008-01-15
Posts 589
india
19 posted 2009-01-21 10:14 PM


Wonderful. I like the way your words always move inward instead of moving outward

clever talks delay friendship!

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
20 posted 2009-01-22 11:48 AM


Thank you Ruth.  I am glad you enjoyed it.

Merci Yann.

Merci Eric.

Thank you Kushal for your interesting comment that has me pondering about it.

Owl

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