Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#202024 08/23/2011 11:04 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Although it's not his day yet everywhere, and I don't know why they would celebrate a 112th birthday of Borges I just wish to add a short translated poem of his, as by chance I have his poems in from the library.

TEXAS

Here too. Here as at the other edge
Of the hemisphere, an endless plain
Where a man's cry dies a lonely death.
Here too the Indian, the lasso, the wild horse.
Here too the bird that never shows itself,
That sings for the memory of one evening
Over the rumblings of history;
Here too the mystic alphabet of stars
Leading my pen over the page to names
Not swept aside in the continual
Labyrith of days; San Jacinto
And that other Thermopylae, the Alamo.
Here too the never understood,
Anxious, and brief affair that is life.

(transl. Mark Strand)

BranShea #202029 08/24/2011 2:32 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Wow, that's really good. Who is this Borges, please?

Jackie #202033 08/24/2011 3:17 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
oh, Jackie, what a sheltered life you lead: Jorge Luis Borges

Jackie #202051 08/24/2011 3:03 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,971
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,971
Likes: 3
Originally Posted By: Jackie
Wow, that's really good. Who is this Borges, please?


Studied him back in World Culture in College, but must
confess I'd forgotten about him.


----please, draw me a sheep----
BranShea #202058 08/24/2011 3:48 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
see also, Collected Fictions, trans. by Andrew Hurley

tsuwm #202061 08/24/2011 6:03 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
I only read some translations of his essays in Dutch and 'The Book of Imaginary Beings'. I didn't know till recently how beautiful is the poetry he wrote. And that he considered himself a poet first, then something else. Thank you tsuwm, I will like to read more ; thanks also to libraries.

tsuwm #202070 08/25/2011 3:32 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Yep; but merci.

Edit: OH! I just went to Google; NOW I know why you brought this up today.

Jackie #202072 08/25/2011 7:17 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Yes, Google's logo motivations and choices are mysterious. I wondered why celebrate the 112th celebraty's birthday?

BranShea #202073 08/25/2011 8:11 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Cause its good to reflect grin

BranShea #202083 08/25/2011 10:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Originally Posted By: BranShea
Yes, Google's logo motivations and choices are mysterious. I wondered why celebrate the 112th celebraty's birthday?


Probably because that's what it is this year. Next year we'll celebrate his 113th.

Faldage #202092 08/25/2011 3:15 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,971
Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,971
Likes: 3
And probably, if the world does not end, the 114 the year after.


----please, draw me a sheep----
LukeJavan8 #202161 08/29/2011 12:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Never mind, reading poetry to me is a pleasure and interesting. Studying poetry I never did but I'd like to share another Borges poem on his unbirthday.

AT THE BUTCHER's

Meaner than a house of prostitution
the meat market flaunts itself in the street like an insult.
Above the door
the head of a steer in a blind-eyed stare
watches over the witches' Sabbath
of flayed flesh and marble slabs
with the aloof majesty of an idol.

+ the original

CARNICERIA

Más vil que un lupanar
la carnicería rubrica como una afrenta la calle.
Sobre el dintel
una ciega cabeza de vaca
preside el aquellarre
de carne charra y mármoles finales
con la remota majestad de un ídolo.

Transl. N.Th. di Giovanni

BranShea #202164 08/29/2011 1:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
watches over the witches' Sabbath / preside el aquellarre

Great word that aquelarre. According to the RAE (link), it is from the Basque word for 'coven; witches' Sabbath'. According to the etymology at the Spanish Wikipedia (link) "del euskera akelarre, "aker" = macho cabrío; "larre" = campo": aker 'billy goat (or buck)' + larre 'field, meadow'.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
zmjezhd #202168 08/29/2011 3:16 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Nice that RAE - link. It's nice to have this besides the double language edition. Thank you! Clear definitions.


Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0