tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post1160052813349957602..comments2024-03-29T10:58:59.565-04:00Comments on The Closet Professor: Ode to the Happy DayJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299122685163501819noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-2368684815229199082019-08-28T21:26:35.134-04:002019-08-28T21:26:35.134-04:00Thanks for finding the original! It took a little ...Thanks for finding the original! It took a little work.<br />Sounds beautiful, and I do not know Spanish, but can piece together some words.<br />And the rhythm is there! Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16830983387942506614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-8701834517395526282019-08-27T23:02:12.255-04:002019-08-27T23:02:12.255-04:00Beautiful, immortal Pablo. Impressive too. ;)
Beautiful, immortal Pablo. Impressive too. ;)<br />Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11493750994949756678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-60850362218976290272019-08-27T11:25:12.144-04:002019-08-27T11:25:12.144-04:00Roderick this was sent to me by a friend, and I di...Roderick this was sent to me by a friend, and I dint' even think about it being a translation, because if I'm not mistaken, Neruda wrote in both Spanish and English or at least translated some of his poems in English. This one, however, seems to come from All the Odes: A Bilingual Edition which was edited by Ilan Stavans, the distinguished translator and scholar of Latin American literature. However, the book was translated by an assortment of accomplished translators that includes Philip Levine, Paul Muldoon, Mark Strand, and Margaret Sayers Peden. Therefore, i am not sure who the translator is to this poem as I don't have the book. With a little searching, i was able to find the Spanish version fo the poem:<br /><br />Oda al día feliz<br />Pablo Neruda<br /><br />ESTA vez dejadme<br />ser feliz,<br />nada ha pasado a nadie,<br />no estoy en parte alguna,<br />sucede solamente<br />que soy feliz<br />por los cuatro costados<br />del corazón, andando,<br />durmiendo o escribiendo.<br />Qué voy a hacerle, soy<br />feliz.<br />Soy más innumerable<br />que el pasto<br />en las praderas,<br />siento la piel como un árbol rugoso<br />y el agua abajo,<br />los pájaros arriba,<br />el mar como un anillo<br />en mi cintura,<br />hecha de pan y piedra la tierra<br />el aire canta como una guitarra.<br /><br />Tú a mi lado en la arena<br />eres arena,<br />tú cantas y eres canto,<br />el mundo<br />es hoy mi alma,<br />canto y arena,<br />el mundo<br />es hoy tu boca,<br />dejadme<br />en tu boca y en la arena<br />ser feliz,<br />ser feliz porque si, porque respiro<br />y porque tú respiras,<br />ser feliz porque toco<br />tu rodilla<br />y es como si tocara<br />la piel azul del cielo<br />y su frescura.<br /><br />Hoy dejadme<br />a mí solo<br />ser feliz,<br />con todos o sin todos,<br />ser feliz<br />con el pasto<br />y la arena,<br />ser feliz<br />con el aire y la tierra,<br />ser feliz,<br />contigo, con tu boca,<br />ser feliz.<br /><br />I wish I knew who translated this into English, but our library does not have the book that it came from and I have no way of looking it up.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05299122685163501819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-55001618528585261182019-08-27T11:05:51.228-04:002019-08-27T11:05:51.228-04:00 I am puzzled. Did Neruda write this in English? ... I am puzzled. Did Neruda write this in English? If not, would it not be more culturally sensitive to give the original and also provide an English translation? Just asking, RoderickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5356114186987252972.post-73552911021492391102019-08-27T07:36:19.868-04:002019-08-27T07:36:19.868-04:00Thanks for posting this one, Joe. Joyous and posit...Thanks for posting this one, Joe. Joyous and positive.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15705603797740188813noreply@blogger.com