Poem: Ulisse (Umberto Saba)
May. 10th, 2012 07:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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poetreeIt's not the first time we talk about poems written in languages that are not English. snowynight has shared with us some beautiful Chinese poems (here's the tag, in case you missed them), for example.
Today, I'm going to share an Italian poem with you and try to explain how different it is to me reading it in a different language.
This is one of my favourite poems written by Umberto Saba (translated by A.Z. Foreman).
First, let's have a little background explanation. Saba uses Ulysses to talk about himself (they were both sailors) and about the different stages of life.
He often uses a techinque called enjambement, where he cuts in half a sentence from one line to the next. This makes me stumble on my words, I get this sense of urgency that makes me feel like every line I read is new, even if it's the third time I've read it that day.
There are a lot of metaphors, too. The beautiful but slippery rocks are adolescence (to him a beautiful age, to me not so much XD). The sea is life, scary and exciting, a long journey to take with bravery.
May I just say that it's gorgeous? *swoons*
It's not easy to translate a poem. There are a lot of things to decide: should the number of syllables be the same? Should the translator keep the rhymes (well, in this case the problem doesn't exist)? Should they use a literal translation or run the flow?
(In case you're wondering, I've tried translating a poem. Tried is the operative word here, since I gave up and never finished it.)
Translation is a lovely work, but it's also tiring as hell. I like the way Foreman translated this poem because I don't get that feeling of lost in translation, if you know what I mean. Mostly, I'm terribly fond of their decision to keep the enjambement. I feel like the poem would have lost a lot without it <3
snowynight has shared with us some beautiful Chinese poems (here's the tag, in case you missed them), for example.Today, I'm going to share an Italian poem with you and try to explain how different it is to me reading it in a different language.
| Ulisse Nella mia giovanezza ho navigato lungo le coste dalmate. Isolotti a fior d’onda emergevano, ove raro un uccello sostava intento a prede, coperti d’alghe, scivolosi, al sole belli come smeraldi. Quando l’alta marea e la notte li annullava, vele sottovento sbandavano più al largo, per sfuggirne l’insidia. Oggi il mio regno è quella terra di nessuno. Il porto accende ad altri i suoi lumi, me al largo sospinge ancora il non domato spirito, e della vita il doloroso amore | Ulysses When I was in my younger years I sailed The coastlines of Dalmatia. Isles appeared In bloom along the billows where sporadic Birds hung in intent hunger over prey. Those algae-slippery isles were glittering Emeralds in gold sunlight. When the high Tide and the night nullified them, sails Listed to leeward, farther out to sea, To flee their perfidy. Today my kingdom Is this grand No Man's land. The harbor heights Blaze on for others; I to dark broad seas Am thrust by an indomitable spirit, By the excruciating love of life. |
This is one of my favourite poems written by Umberto Saba (translated by A.Z. Foreman).
First, let's have a little background explanation. Saba uses Ulysses to talk about himself (they were both sailors) and about the different stages of life.
He often uses a techinque called enjambement, where he cuts in half a sentence from one line to the next. This makes me stumble on my words, I get this sense of urgency that makes me feel like every line I read is new, even if it's the third time I've read it that day.
There are a lot of metaphors, too. The beautiful but slippery rocks are adolescence (to him a beautiful age, to me not so much XD). The sea is life, scary and exciting, a long journey to take with bravery.
May I just say that it's gorgeous? *swoons*
It's not easy to translate a poem. There are a lot of things to decide: should the number of syllables be the same? Should the translator keep the rhymes (well, in this case the problem doesn't exist)? Should they use a literal translation or run the flow?
(In case you're wondering, I've tried translating a poem. Tried is the operative word here, since I gave up and never finished it.)
Translation is a lovely work, but it's also tiring as hell. I like the way Foreman translated this poem because I don't get that feeling of lost in translation, if you know what I mean. Mostly, I'm terribly fond of their decision to keep the enjambement. I feel like the poem would have lost a lot without it <3
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Date: 2012-05-10 08:06 pm (UTC)Yay, I'm glad you liked Saba \o/
Thank you for your comment <3