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Posts Tagged ‘Gustavo Adolfo Becquer’

Published by Associate Editor on February 9, 2014. This item is listed in Issue 21, Issue 21 Poetry, Poetry

When the Dark Shadow Falls

The best way to enjoy listening to this poem is to listen to the original Spanish version first

Cuando entre la Sombra Oscura

When the Dark Shadow Falls

Narrated by Steven Wittenberg Gordon, MD

by Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, translated by Steven Wittenberg Gordon, MD

When the Dark Shadow Falls by Gustavo Adolfo Becquer

 

Cuando entre la Sombra Oscura When the Dark Shadow Falls
   
Cuando entre la sombra oscura When the dark shadow falls
perdida una voz murmura
a lost voice murmurs
turbando su triste calma, disturbing your sad calm
si en el fondo de mi alma if in the core of my being
la oigo dulce resonar, I hear the sweetness resonate,
   
Dime: ¿es que el viento en sus giros Tell me: is it that the swirling wind
se queja, o que tus suspiros complains, or that your sighs
me hablan de amor al pasar? speak to me of love that’s gone?
   
Cuando el sol en mi ventana When the sun in my window
rojo brilla a la mañana
shines red in the morning
y mi amor tu sombra evoca,
and my love evokes your shadow,
si en mi boca de otra boca
if in my mouth of another mouth
sentir creo la impresión,
I believe I feel the impression,
   
Dime: ¿es que ciego deliro,
Tell me:  is it that I am delirious and blind
o que un beso en un suspiro
or that a kiss in a sigh
me envía tu corazón?
sends to me your heart?
   
Y en el luminoso día
And in the luminous day
y en la alta noche sombría,
and in the height of the shadowy night,
si en todo cuanto rodea
if in all whatever it surrounds
al alma que te desea
to the core of your desires
te creo sentir y ver,
I believe you to feel and see,
   
Dime: ¿es que toco y respiro
Tell me:  is what I touch and breathe
soñando, o que en un suspiro
in a dream, or that in a sigh
me das tu aliento a beber?
you give me your breath to drink?
   
Gustavo Adolfo Becquer Steven Wittenberg Gordon, MD
Author Translator

 

Translator’s Notes:

Spanish is a beautiful, romantic language that I have always admired.  It is naturally poetic.  So, when I decided to become a poet, I decided to include translations of Spanish poems into English as part of my body of work.   I found a number of Spanish language poems in the public domain by Spanish poet Gustavo Aldolfo Bécquer and translated them into English.  One of these, “Cuando entre la Sombra Oscura / When the Dark Shadow Falls,” appears here.

Translation proved to be an interesting exercise.  I began by translating the words as literally as possible.  Most of the time, the literal translation did not work either for meaning or as poetry.  Next, I rearranged the word order to resemble English.  For example, in Spanish, an adjective usually follows the word that it modifies–the exact opposite of English.  Many times, this did the trick.  After that, I had to get down in the weeds to tease out how certain words with multiple plausible meanings should be translated.  I found the process easier as I went along.

I placed my highest priority on creating poetry first–hence my almost complete disregard for a literal translation.  I ran into trouble right away with the title.  Literally translated, it means, “When enters the shadow dark.”  I quickly changed this to, “When the dark shadow enters.”  However, idiomatically in English, we say, “When the dark shadow falls.”

I also placed a high priority on conveying the precise, intended meaning of the poet.  This was the most difficult aspect in some ways, as it was tempting to insert my own bias for word choice into the translation.  It was most tempting to take a stab at preserving Bécquer’s beautiful rhyme scheme in this poem–aabbc in the quintets, and ddc in the tercets.  However, I quickly abandoned the notion.  Duplicating the rhyme scheme almost inevitably would have meant choosing words for the sake of their sound and not their meaning.  I am proud to say, I remained loyal to Bécquer.


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Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836 – 1870) is considered one of the first modern Spanish poets.  Originally from Sevilla, he moved to Madrid in 1854 in pursuit of a literary career.  Sadly, Bécquer received acclaim only after his death from tuberculosis at the age of 34.  [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/58011/Gustavo-Adolfo-Becquer]

Steven Wittenberg Gordon, MD, the editor of Songs of Eretz Poetry E-zine, learned Spanish by paying attention in high school Spanish class.  Originally from upstate New York, he moved to Kansas in 2007 in pursuit of a literary career.  He still practices medicine on a part-time basis and has diagnosed and treated numerous cases of tuberculosis.  Visit him at www.eretzsongs.blogspot.com.

 

(editor note: With sincere apologies to Steven Wittenberg Gordon, MD, the original version of the this poem published here, with its translation, was in error, and was missing the translator notes and biography. We make every effort to provide a quality magazine and all errors were Silver Blade’s and not the translator’s.)

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Published by Associate Editor on February 9, 2014. This item is listed in Introductions, Issue 21, Poetry

Introduction to Issue 21 Poetry

john-mannoneby John C. Mannone

I get excited in presenting a slate of poets to you every issue, which I try to make better (if that’s possible). I also like to try new things. In this issue, the celebrated poets, Geoffrey A. Landis and Mary A. Turzillo, husband and wife, are our Featured Poets. I think you will find it interesting, humorous, and enlightening to see how two speculative poets and writers develop their craft, under the same roof. Enjoy the interview and a sampling of their poetic styles with “Curiosity” and “Night at the Manatee Motel” by Geoffrey, and “Blue Tulips” and “Whales Discover Fireworks” by Mary.

Marge Simon treats us to a creative poem, “Catana,” which segues nicely into a love poem by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer. Steven Gordon translates this passionate poem from Spanish to English. (This is another new feature I hope to see more of in future issues—poems-in-translation.) “Attic Dust” by Sandi Leibowitz is emotionally charged is an experimental poem (with respect to structure). John Grey’s “The Last Ride” brings a bit of fantasy to the table, but it is much more than that.

Thank you for reading and listening to these poems (most of them have an audio file for your extended enjoyment.)

John C. Mannone
Poetry Editor

 

Issue 21 Poetry

Interview with Featured Poets Geoffrey A. Landis and Mary A Turzillo by John C. Mannone

Curiosity by Geoffrey A. Landis

Night at the Matinee Motel by Geoffrey A. Landis

Blue Tulips by Mary A. Turzillo

Whales Discover Fireworks by Mary A. Turzillo

Catana by Marge Simon

Cuando entre la Sombra Oscura (When the Dark Shadow Falls) by Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, translated by Steven Wittenberg Gordon, MD

Attic Dust by Sandi Leibowitz

The Last Ride by John Grey

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