I have seen strange things

I’ve seen strange things, Celalba, winds that shout,
the teared clouds, towers bent to kiss
their basements, maim and abyss,
and earth that vomits own bowels out.

The sturdy bridges broken and unbowed
prodigious streams, swelled rivers, rising seas,
unthinkable destruction, broken trees
and mountains washed up and overpowered.

The days of Noah - no one could be found,
the tips of tall pine trees at outskirts
submerged in water, suffocated, drowned.

I saw before me floating huts and herds
with neither form nor life preserved around      
and dreaded nothing more but soul that hurts


* * *

Cosas, Celalba mнa, he visto extraсas: 
cascarse nubes, desbocarse vientos, 
altas torres besar sus fundamentos, 
y vomitar la tierra sus entraсas; 
      
duras puentes romper, cual tiernas caсas, 
arroyos prodigiosos, rнos violentos, 
mal vadeados de los pensamientos, 
y enfrenados peor de las montaсas; 
      
los dнas de Noй, gentes subidas 
en los mбs altos pinos levantados, 
en las robustas hayas mбs crecidas. 
      
Pastores, perros, chozas y ganados 
sobre las aguas vi, sin forma y vidas, 
y nada temн mбs que mis cuidados. 


Рецензии
Perfect as usuall.Thanks again and again. Happy NY.
Frankly yours, Valentyn Luchenko.

Валео Лученко   14.01.2003 12:58     Заявить о нарушении
Many thanks, Valentyn, for you consistent support. Gongora is a highly refined poet and a real challenge to translate. I have little doubt that your assessment of my efforts is far too generous. However, I am doing my best. Surprisingly, Gongora is not well known to English speakers even though he was, perhaps, the greatest Spanish poet of all times.

I wish you a happy and productive New Year. I am looking forward to see more of your new poems, whatever the language you choose to write on. I find your work interesting and sincere.

Kind regards,

Boris

Борис Старосельский   16.01.2003 15:13   Заявить о нарушении