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two eastern europeans...
TUDOR ARGHEZI
Autumn Breeze
The world is paved with light,
Like a church with smoke and resin.
Men drunk with the skies
Stagger in prophets' vestments.
Cold, new, fragile, virginal,
Light leads mankind in her skirts
And her smooth silk touch
Invests neck and soul with ornaments.
Grape-clusters, trod and scattered,
Are red shingle, garden berries
To the light.
Heavy horse-blankets in which
Leaves lie buried
Are slowly woven.
From the soul's resurrection,
From the spring,
She-goats of memories drink;
Cats romp with kids
To the glassy whistling of finches.
In the wind you pick out a babe's cry
Sung by a voice from the earth.
Born in me, the babe remains in me,
And I throw the sorcova of light
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TPB's notes: source page editor's note: "from the collection, Fitting Words. sorcova: a garlanded New Year's stick, symbolic of rejuvenation - source:http://allpoetry.com/Tudor_Arghezi"
our note: the last two lines really gets us:
"Born in me, the babe remains in me / And I throw the sorcova of light."
we are sure the translation could have ended right there; but they added "Into its arms." as last line--a line we can't help but wonder if it shouldn't be up somewhere. thus, that line is not included here.
see above link for more on poem/poet.
ps: no mention of translator. no original version found in the Romanian
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LEOPOLD STAFF
The Bridge
I didn’t believe,
Standing on the bank of a river
Which was wide and swift,
That I would cross that bridge
Plaited from thin, fragile reeds
Fastened with bast.
I walked delicately as a butterfly
And heavily as an elephant,
I walked surely as a dancer
And wavered like a blind man.
I didn’t believe that I would cross that bridge,
And now that I am standing on the other side,
I don’t believe I crossed it.
in the polish:
LEOPOLD STAFF
Most
Nie wierzyłem
Stojąc nad brzegiem rzeki,
Która była szeroka i rwista,
Że przejdę ten most,
Spleciony z cienkiej, kruchej trzciny
Powiązanej łykiem.
Szedłem lekko jak motyl
I ciężko jak słoń,
Szedłem pewnie jak tancerz
I chwiejnie jak ślepiec.
Nie wierzyłem, że przejdę ten most,
I gdy stoję już na drugim brzegu,
Nie wierzę, że go przeszedłem.
translator unknown
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TPB's notes: n/a
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