Translation Poems - Poems about Translation

These are English translations of Issa haiku about the seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter. Autumn wind ... She always wanted to pluck the reddest roses ?Kobayashi Issa translation by Michael R. Burch Issa wrote the haiku above after the death of his daughter Sato with the note: “Sato, girl, 35th day, at the grave.” In this world where I was born every...

Continue reading...

in a strange foreign land lone outsider waiting on the sidelines stumbles upon friendship and finds comfort soul to soul securing a safety net experiences the freedom to let loose to laugh and share the freedom to be free within confines set by the heart indelibly forging a lasting memory to take home and treasure always Inspired by the movie 'Lost in Translation'...

Continue reading...

Tonight from all but you, beloved, I shall part— This frail, forlorn heart’s copper turned to golden art. To taste the drops of your love’s alchemy so bright, Through passion’s flame, my soul ascends in fervent light. The lute and harp intoxicate me, heart undone, Yet the magic echo of your words outshines the sun. You spoke of rain, of thorny...

Continue reading...

Raak jy aan my Die more son is ‘n kus op my wang So sag soos ‘n veer, raak jy aan my met die son en maak my verlang, Die straal in die maan lig, streel my oë So sag en teer, raak jy aan my dat ek jou sien met ander oë. Die wind waai en my omhels So hou jy my...

Continue reading...

Wandering in the woods for years, Trials and Tribulations without fears, Scorching heat, thorns and flood flow, Came the Pandavas with a divine glow. For days not Fortune lay wrappen, Wait and Watch the thing to happen. To manifest the clan’s worth, To show the righteous path on Earth, To bring Duryodhan into sense, To prevent Massacre of Vehemence, Came Hastinapur the Almighty, The Message...

Continue reading...

This poem is an English translation of one of the beautiful Bengali poem of PS poet Malabika Ray. Midnight chimes unveil in cascade, glances of your shimmering face engulfing me in a transient dream... As if you never went away! As if I didn't wake up to see you're gone! As if I no longer felt the shatters of pain...

Continue reading...

LAO TZU ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS IV The Roots of Turbulence by Lao Tzu, translation by Michael R. Burch Heaviness lies at the root of lightness; stillness begets turbulence. Thus the nobleman heads his caravan keeping a constant eye on his possession-laden wagons. At night he sleeps secure behind high-walled towers, undaunted and untroubled. But how can the ruler of ten thousand chariots discard the people so...

Continue reading...

LAO TZU ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS III The Valley Spirit by Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The valley Spirit never runs dry, the river to whom all waters run: the Spirit of our Primal Mother. Deeply rooting Heaven and Earth, to most eyes a delicate veil dimly seen, yet a never-failing Fountainhead. Adhere to the Feminine by Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R....

Continue reading...

LAO TZU ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS I Be Like Water by Lao Tzu, translation by Michael R. Burch The highest virtue resembles water because water unselfishly benefits all life, then settles, without contention or needless strife, in lowly cisterns. Weep for the Dead by Lao Tzu, translation by Michael R. Burch When seeing mounds of the dead the virtuous weep for the loss of life. When one is...

Continue reading...

LAO TZU ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS I An unbending tree breaks easily. —Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Nothing is weaker or gentler than water, yet nothing can prevail against it. —Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch That the yielding overcomes the resistant is known by all men yet utilized by none. —Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Why does the...

Continue reading...

Callimachus English translations For Gail White To the Cup-Bearer by Callimachus translation by Michael R. Burch Decant the wine then toast "To Diokles!" Nor does the beautiful boy Achelous touch his hallowed ladlefuls. So beautiful the boy, Achelous, passing beautiful, and if any disagree, let me alone comprehend real beauty. Pitiless ship, having borne away my life’s sole light, I beseech you...

Continue reading...

These are my English translations of poems and epigrams by the ancient Greek poet Callimachus aka Kallimachos. His surviving poems come from various sources including the Greek Anthology and the Garland of Meleager. The epigrams of Callimachus were so admired in antiquity that they became part of the school curriculum. For Gail White, who put me...

Continue reading...

CHINESE FEMALE POETS: ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS Creamy Melons by Chao Luan-Luan translation by Michael R. Burch Scented with talcum, moist with perspiration, like pegs of jade inlaid in a harp, aroused by desire, yet soft as cream, fertile amid a warm mist after my bath, as my lover perfumes them, cups them and plays with them, cool as melons and purple grapes. Life in the Palace by Lady...

Continue reading...

WALDERE: MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATION “Waldere” is an ancient Old English (i.e., Anglo-Saxon) poem that recounts the exploits of Walter of Aquitaine, a legendary king of the Visigoths. In the poem Waldere and Hildeguth or Hildegyth flee the court of Attila the Hun, where they were being held hostage, for Aquitaine. The poem mentions names that appear...

Continue reading...

KING ALFRED THE GREAT MODERN ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS King Alfred the Great (circa 849-899) was the first English king to be a notable scholar, poet and translator. Alfred has been credited with translating Latin works of Boethius into Old English (i.e., Anglo-Saxon English), although it is not known if he did the translations himself, assisted, or just...

Continue reading...