I ran across a poem today by Ana Blandiana, entitled Hotarul. It’s written in Romanian, but a Google translation to English, while rough, gave me enough context to attempt a better translation. I think it’s really beautiful. I’ll post my translation first, followed by the original in Romanian. “Hotarul” translates to “Boundary.”
Boundary
I am searching for the beginnings of evil
As in childhood I sought out the rain’s edge.
Running with abandon to find the
Place where
I might lay on the ground and ponder the
Rainfall on one side and not the other
The drops slowly subsiding as
I discerned the boundary
And increasing again before
I saw clearly.
I grew up for nothing.
With all that I am
I run to discover the place where
I might lay on the ground and ponder the
Brink of good and evil.
Yet evil always ceases before
I discern the boundary
And builds again, before
I can place the good.
I am searching for the beginnings of evil
In this land
Overcast and sunlit,
Step by step.– Ana Blandiana
Here’s the original.
Hotarul
Caut începutului raului
Cum cautam în copilarie marginile ploii.
Alergam din toate puterile sa gasesc
Locul în care
Sa ma asez pe pamânt sa contemplu
De-o parte ploaia, de-o parte neploaia.
Dar întotdeauna ploaia-nceta înainte
De a-i descoperi hotarele
Si reîncepea înainte
De-a sti pâna unde-i seninul.
Degeaba am crescut.
Din toate puterile
Alerg si acum sa gasesc locul unde
Sa ma asez pe pamânt sa contemplu
Linia care desparte raul de bine.
Dar întotdeanuna raul înceteaza-nainte
De a-i descoperi hotarul
Si reîncepe-nainte
De-a sti pâna unde e binele.
Eu caut începutul raului
Pe acest pamânt
Înnorat si-nsorit
Rând pe rând.– Ana Blandiana
Pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning. 🙂 Lowercase Noises’ “Ambient Songs” is a great album to translate to.