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Thread: opinion on translation needed

  1. #1
    Registered User chispa's Avatar
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    opinion on translation needed

    I translated this poem of F Garcia Lorca from spanish to english. I want to know if the ideas are transfered correctly.....please comment!

    Gazelle of the sudden love

    Nobody understood the fragance
    of the dark magnolia of your belly.
    Nobody knew that you tormented
    a colibri of love among your teeth

    One thousand persian ponies fell asleep
    in the square with moon of your forehead,
    while I tied four nights
    your waist, enemy of the snows.

    Between plaster and jazmines, your glance
    was a pale branch of seeds.
    I searched, to give you, by my chest
    the ivory letters that say forever

    Forever, forever: garden of my agony,
    your fugitive body for ever,
    the blood of your veins in my mouth,
    your mouth already without light for my death.

  2. #2
    Just another nerd RobinHood3000's Avatar
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    Hmm...do you have the original Spanish, by any chance?
    Por una cabeza
    Si ella me olvida
    Qué importa perderme
    Mil veces la vida
    Para qué vivir

  3. #3
    Registered User chispa's Avatar
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    original

    Gacela del amor imprevisto (F.García Lorca)

    Nadie comprendía el perfume
    de la oscura magnolia de tu vientre.
    Nadie sabía que martirizabas
    Un colibrí de amor entre los dientes.

    Mil caballitos persas se dormían
    en la plaza con luna de tu frente,
    mientras yo enlazaba cuatro noches
    tu cintura, enemiga de las nieves.

    Entre yeso y jazmines, tu mirada
    era un pálido ramo de simientes.
    Yo busqué, para darte, por mi pecho
    las letras de marfil que dicen siempre.

    Siempre, siempre: jardín de mi agonía,
    tu cuerpo fugitivo para siempre,
    la sangre de tus venas en mi boca,
    tu boca ya sin luz para mi muerte.

  4. #4
    Just another nerd RobinHood3000's Avatar
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    "In the square with the moon" -- If I recall correctly, English uses articles more liberally than does Spanish.

    "I searched, to give you, of/from (your choice) my chest" -- Por has a variety of equivalents in English, I believe.

    Otherwise, well-done.
    Por una cabeza
    Si ella me olvida
    Qué importa perderme
    Mil veces la vida
    Para qué vivir

  5. #5
    Registered User chispa's Avatar
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    you are so nice!

    thanks RobinHood3000.....!!!!! for helping this "poor lady"

  6. #6
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    entre los dientes= among THE teeth

    As RobinHood3000 says, "por" has different meanings in Spanish. Here, Federico G. Lorca means that he was searching for words on/in his chest (both are valid, depending on your interpretation).

    Great job, Chispa!!! Glad you like Federico G. Lorca, it's one of my favorites.
    "... I TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITY. I HIDE MYSELF FROM NO ONE. I AM ON MY PATH... I WON'T LET MY FOCUS CHANGE, TAKING OUT THE DEMONS IN MY RANGE ("The Warrior's Reminder". E.B.)"

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