LL-L "Translation" 2003.11.06 (03) [E/S]

[Lowlands-L]

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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Sandy Fleming [sandy at scotstext.org]
Subject: "Translation"

> From: R. F. Hahn <lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net>
> Subject: Translation
>
> Sandy, I still have a feeling that it is the bracken* that seizes
> winter and
> all its symbols, apparently including the wings (of seabirds on a stormy
> shore?).

Could you explain this in "for Dummies" fashion so I can do something about
my translation?

I can't even make much sense of your English translation of the last two
verses:

   the reddened bracken
   has hidden its shape,
   as always took hold of
   the call of the goose,

   took hold of the chill,
   the wings of the bird,
   the icy time ...
   these are my tidings.

If the poet is thinking of the bracken "taking hold of" all of these:

  1. the call of the goose
  2. the chill
  3. the wings of the bird
  4. the icy time

then I need an explanation of what he means by "taking hold of" or
"gripping" these things. I just don't get it!

Sandy
http://scotstext.org/

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From: Sandy Fleming [sandy at scotstext.org]
Subject: "Holidays"

> From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Holidays
>
>    Life and Death
>
>    Can you think of similes for life and death?
>    All right, let's compare them to water and ice!
>    Water solidifies and thus turns to ice.
>    Ice turns back into water when it melts.
>    All that dies must in time come to life.
>    All that lives must in turn return to death.
>    Water and ice do each other no harm.
>    Life and death are equally nice.
>
>              Han Shan (7/8th cent. C.E.)

I was putting the above poem into Scots, but couldn't resist from rewriting
it a bit to make better use of Scots idiom. It does change the meaning of
the poem a bit, I just hope I haven't done too much damage!

Life an Daith

The lauchter o life is like watter,
the duil o daith like ice:
but watter jeels intae ice,
an ice thows back intae watter.
What dees maun come tae life gien time.
What leeves maun meet wi daith afore lang.
Watter or ice, it's aa ane.
Life an daith canna be sindert.

duil: sorrow
jeels: freezes, solidifies
thows: thaws, melts
dees: die
maun: must
gien: given
leeves: lives
daith: death
afore lang: before long
it's aa ane: it's all one, it comes to the same thing
canna: can't
sindert: separated

Sandy
http://scotstext.org/

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From: R. F. Hahn <lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net>
Subject: Translation

Sandy:

> Could you explain this in "for Dummies" fashion so I can do something
about
> my translation?

Sure.  ;)

> If the poet is thinking of the bracken "taking hold of" all of these:
>
>   1. the call of the goose
>   2. the chill
>   3. the wings of the bird
>   4. the icy time
>
> then I need an explanation of what he means by "taking hold of" or
"gripping" these
> things. I just don't get it!

In my interpretation (and mind that this is personal) the "personified"
bracken (reddened from the cold, possibly with a glitter of frost) *takes
possession of* winter, 1-4 being symbols, things that the poet's mind
connects with winter scenes: 1) the sounds, 2) (& 4) the sensations, and 3)
the sights.

> I was putting the above poem into Scots, but couldn't resist from
rewriting it a bit to make
> better use of Scots idiom. It does change the meaning of the poem a bit, I
just hope I
> haven't done too much damage!

Nice job for a free interpretation ("efter Han Shan"?)!

My wild stab at a more literal (less Scots?) draft rendering:

LIFE AN DAITH

Div ye ken whit is like life an daith?
Ye cuid think on thaim as watter an ice.
Whan watter jeels it turns intae ice.
Whan ice thows it turns ance mair intae watter.
Whit dees maun come tae life again.
Whit leeves maun dwyne tae daith again.
Watter an ice dae anither nae hairm.
Thay's e'enlie lillie -- life an daith.

You wanted "butchering"? You got it?  Obviously more on the side of the
language.  :)

Guidwill,
Reinhard/Ron

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