Saturday 28 December 2013

Something Genius - Borrowed from Mihai Eminescu



PE LANGA PLOPII FARA SOT...
Pe lânga plopii fara sot
 Adesea am trecut;
 Ma cunosteau vecinii toti
Tu nu m-ai cunoscut.

La geamul tau ce stralucea
 Privii atât de des;
 O lume toata-ntelegea
Tu nu m-ai înteles.

De câte ori am asteptat
 O soapta de raspuns!
 O zi din viata sa-mi fi dat,
 O zi mi-era de-ajuns;

O ora sa fi fost amici,
 Sa ne iubim cu dor,
 S-ascult de glasul gurii mici,
 O ora, si sa mor.

Dându-mi din ochiul tau senin
 O raza dinadins,
 In calea timpilor ce vin
 O stea s-ar fi aprins;

Ai fi trait în veci de veci
 Si rânduri de vieti,
 Cu ale tale brate reci
 Inmarmureai maret,

Un chip de-a pururi adorat
 Cum nu mai au perechi
 Acele zâne ce strabat
 Din timpurile vechi.

Caci te iubeam cu ochi pagâni
 Si plini de suferinti,
 Ce mi-i lasara din batrâni
 Parintii din parinti.

Azi nici macar îmi pare rau
 Ca trec cu mult mai rar,
 Ca cu tristeta capul tau
 Se-ntoarce în zadar,

Caci azi le semeni tuturor
 La umblet si la port,
 Si te privesc nepasator
 C-un rece ochi de mort.

Tu trebuia sa te cuprinzi
 De acel farmec stânt,
 Si noaptea candela s-aprinzi
 Iubirii pe pamânt.
                               (1883, 28 august / 9 septembrie)

Down Where the Lonely Poplars Grow

Down where the lonely poplars grow
How often have I erred;
My steps that all the neighbours know
You only have not heard.

Towards your window lighted through
How oft my gaze has flown;
A world entire my secret knew
You only have not known.

A word, a murmur of reply
How often did I pray!
What matters then if I should die,
Enough to live that day;

To know one hour of tenderness,
One hour of lovers' night;
To hear you whisper's soft caress
One hour, then come what might!

Had you but granted me a glance
That was not filled with scorn,
Out of its shinning radiance
A new star has been born.

You would have lived through lives untold
Beyond the ends of time;
Oh, deity with arms so cold,
Oh, marble form sublime!

An idol of some pagan lore
As now no more is seen,
Come down to us from times of yore,
From times that long have been.

My worship was of ages gone,
Sad eyes by faith beguiled,
Each generation handed on
From father unto child.

But now I very little care
To walk along that lane,
Nor heed the face I found so fair
Looks out for me in vain;

For you are like them today
In bearing and in guise,
And I but look on your display
With cold and lifeless eyes.

You should have known to value right
With wondering intent,
And lit your candela at night
To Love that God had sent.
 (translated by Gheorghe Sarac)