tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394695916970642440.post4922965188088464695..comments2024-03-16T22:55:12.147+01:00Comments on johnirons: Poem by the Dutch writer Menno WigmanJohn Ironshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280674552291828042noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394695916970642440.post-34255447849132611912013-01-13T22:19:25.345+01:002013-01-13T22:19:25.345+01:00Thank you for trying, and my sincere apologies for...Thank you for trying, and my sincere apologies for the delay in responding, work has been hectic. I like your translation; you are absolutely right that certain things are just impossible to replicate in another language. I need to look at the poem and your draft more carefully to be able to say anything substantive. More soon!<br /><br />WillemienAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394695916970642440.post-35220788686271341672012-12-21T13:08:30.121+01:002012-12-21T13:08:30.121+01:00it's a powerful poem. the rhyme scheme and vow...it's a powerful poem. the rhyme scheme and vowel/word repetitions i can't manage, but can try and suggest via other means to a certain extent. here's first draft:<br /><br />Blackbird<br /><br />The morning blackbird gargles<br />the cup’s bitter wine:<br />dreaming that curdles <br />to pain in birds’ throats,<br />because there must be dawning;<br />because the vast whole of the<br />dark can no longer remain shut.John Ironshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13280674552291828042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394695916970642440.post-8449777624115490762012-12-15T23:11:50.985+01:002012-12-15T23:11:50.985+01:00Thank you for your response. One poem I have tried...Thank you for your response. One poem I have tried to translate myself is the poem "Merel" by Achterberg (please see below). For me, trying to translate a poem helps me understand the structure of the poem better. Of course, I don't expect you to try your hand at a translation, but I thought you might like it.<br /><br />Merel<br />(Gerrit Achterberg)<br /><br />De morgenmerel gorgelt<br />bekers bittere wijn:<br />droom die tot pijn verkorrelt<br />in vogelkeelen,<br />omdat het dag moet zijn;<br />omdat het groote heele<br />donker niet langer dicht kan zijn.Willemiennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394695916970642440.post-65090373832276756872012-12-08T08:12:20.748+01:002012-12-08T08:12:20.748+01:00thank you for your kind words. if there are partic...thank you for your kind words. if there are particular dutch poems you would like to see in an english translation, just let me know and i'll see what i can do. i can't promise, though, some poems and poets i am unable to translate.John Ironshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13280674552291828042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394695916970642440.post-15590234692529620802012-12-07T21:14:48.225+01:002012-12-07T21:14:48.225+01:00I just discovered your blog. You have an excellent...I just discovered your blog. You have an excellent taste in selecting poems, and the translations of the Dutch poems are really very good (I'm a native Dutch speaker; I cannot judge the translations from the other languages). Thank you for making this all available - it's a real treasure trove.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com