Today we have my attempt to translate a poem from a language that I haven't studied very intensively (Afrikaans), but which is mutually intelligible with one I have (Dutch). The endeavor is possibly ill-advised, but I enjoyed the original poem so much that I wanted to try. I can't shake the sense that putting it into English misses a bit of the point, though, for I imagine it means something that Afrikaans is the language in which the poem's sentiment is being articulated.
A New Alphabet
By Antjie Krog
Translated by A.Z. Foreman
If you say A you must say B
A is always against apartheid
B is color-blind
I want to write you brother but you're farther
Than the last century than a mother country
Than poem or document
If you say A you must say B
A is always against apartheid
B is color-blind
So many guides leave me high and dry
from so many sides I try getting close to
you to get closer - the more clothes I cast off
the colder I get the farther you appear
If you say A you must say B
A is always against apartheid
B is color-blind
My eyes can't get their fill of drowsing thorntrees
Between red grass and plovers with thin shins
My garden strewn with heaps of roses - only for my children
Will I lay down my life
Here I am learning to write - I have no choice.
Original:
Nuwe alfabet
As jy A sê moet jy B sê
A is altyd teen apartheid
B is blind vir kleur
ek wil jou skryf broer maar jy's verder
as die vorige eeu as 'n stamland
as gedig of dokument
As jy A sê moet jy B sê
A is altyd teen apartheid
B is blind vir kleur
soveel gidse laat my in die steek
van soveel kante probeer ek by benadering
jou benader - hoe meer klede ek afgooi
hoe kouer rondom my hoe verder blyk jy te wees
As jy A sê moet jy B sê
A is altyd teen apartheid
B is blind vir kleur
my oë kom nie uitgekyk aan doringbome dommelend
tussen rooigras en kiewiete met breidun bene
my tuin gevlek met vragte rose - net vir my kinders
le ek my lewe neer
hier leer ek skryf - ek kan nie anders
A New Alphabet
By Antjie Krog
Translated by A.Z. Foreman
If you say A you must say B
A is always against apartheid
B is color-blind
I want to write you brother but you're farther
Than the last century than a mother country
Than poem or document
If you say A you must say B
A is always against apartheid
B is color-blind
So many guides leave me high and dry
from so many sides I try getting close to
you to get closer - the more clothes I cast off
the colder I get the farther you appear
If you say A you must say B
A is always against apartheid
B is color-blind
My eyes can't get their fill of drowsing thorntrees
Between red grass and plovers with thin shins
My garden strewn with heaps of roses - only for my children
Will I lay down my life
Here I am learning to write - I have no choice.
Original:
Nuwe alfabet
As jy A sê moet jy B sê
A is altyd teen apartheid
B is blind vir kleur
ek wil jou skryf broer maar jy's verder
as die vorige eeu as 'n stamland
as gedig of dokument
As jy A sê moet jy B sê
A is altyd teen apartheid
B is blind vir kleur
soveel gidse laat my in die steek
van soveel kante probeer ek by benadering
jou benader - hoe meer klede ek afgooi
hoe kouer rondom my hoe verder blyk jy te wees
As jy A sê moet jy B sê
A is altyd teen apartheid
B is blind vir kleur
my oë kom nie uitgekyk aan doringbome dommelend
tussen rooigras en kiewiete met breidun bene
my tuin gevlek met vragte rose - net vir my kinders
le ek my lewe neer
hier leer ek skryf - ek kan nie anders
“Blind vir kleur” seems to me to indicate a mental stance of a person, like the blindfolded Justitia. So no color-blindness, which is inborn. In Dutch we say: “hij is er blind voor…”, which is utterly negative: “he does not want to see it [the truth] (the fool!)”. Being in love clouds over the loved one’s shortcomings etc. Perhaps you can work on this Justitia who willingly lets herself being blindfolded.
ReplyDeleteI do not know the original language, but find the poem quite moving, especially the concluding stanza. I have worked with autistic children, for whom words/language can be either a momentous struggle, or a super-strength. The poem is timely, thinking of Mandiba's passing not long ago.
ReplyDeleteI have not come across the poem but Afrikaans is my mother tongue. Excellent translation - I would not be able to do it better. I understand every word of the poem, and her phrases taken individually are quite haunting, but I still find her overall message a little opaque.
ReplyDeleteThere is no "ik" in Afrikaans, only "ek". Two (further) random observations: the line "my tuin gevlek met vragte rose" literally means "my garden stained with loads of roses". This still does not convey a particular shade of meaning in the word, "vragte". "Vragte" ("loads") gives a sense of the huge, heavy, almost oppressive presence of roses; rather than "heaps" (= "hope" in Afr). "Blind vir kleur" = not discriminating, much like in the sense of being "color-deaf" (not discriminating according to the African accent when, e.g., listening to the radio in South Africa). P S I find your translations and blog very enriching.