Árni
I like this dream - and translation.
I like especially the owl.
'A few steps ahead,
on the floor by the radiator,
sat a short-eared owl.'
erminia
On Sun, 26 May 2002 00:57:15 +0000, =?ISO-8859-1?B?wQ==?=rni Ibsen
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Below is a translation in progress of a poem I wrote about two years ago.
>It's stems from a vivid, curious dream I had. Never been very sure about
>this, but admit it shows more promise in this English garb or getup. The
>translation is mine and my co-translator's. Comments welcome.
>
>Árni
>
>
>
>
>
>Curious omens at the heart of the matter
>[2nd draft]
>
>
>
>Not wishing to hide,
>inside or out of
>the discourse,
>
>but to bring it forth -
>proud coach
>with a mute protégé.
>
>But words
>failed;
>he stood alone
>
>empty handed
>at the heart of the matter;
>a muted sigh in the air.
>
>For a few moments: nothing,
>his image still.
>still in his own image.
>
>Suddenly
>a red apple lay
>in the palm of his hand
>
>but his hand
>wouldn't respond,
>couldn't raise it to his mouth.
>
>He gazed at it
>until his mind
>had made of it a surrogate,
>
>a perfect
>proxy,
>weightless
>
>insubstantial
>crafted shell
>of some Weland.
>
>Slowly he lifted his head,
>closed his eyes
>and opened them:
>
>A few steps ahead,
>on the floor by the radiator,
>sat a short-eared owl.
>
>It had hovered
>above the crown of his head
>without his noticing.
>
>Now he needed only words
>to weigh
>this fear,
>
>to meet
>its steady gaze
>and call it to him, silently .
|