There is an english version at the end for Poets United Poetry pantry
Een nieuw gerecht
Een
pas, twee passen op het pad
naar mijn eerste poëzie in mijn moedertaal,
na enige tijd te hebben vertoefd
in het Engels.
Het
voelt alsof mijn voeten glijden
in oude, dierbare schoenen.
Alledaags en toch machtig
een zekere vrijheid verschijnt.
Plots
pluk ik wolken,
zonnestralen strelen
en zichtbaar dartel, dans ik
op deze schoenen die mij verzoenen
met gisteren.
Deze
taal is een deel van mij,
zoals mijn handen, mijn ogen,
de klank van mijn stem
een deel van mij zijn.
Alsof
twee dierbaren; mijn poëzie
en mijn moedertaal
elkaar voor het eerst ontmoeten.
zoals
twee ingrediënten
die samen een nieuw gerecht vormen.
En na het proeven denk ik:
Ja dat doe ik weer
dit smaakt naar meer.”
It was not as hard as I thought it would I suddenly felt much more freedom. It was only very hard to translate and it is not a proper representation. You loose beginning rhyme and the likes so I tweaked it a bit so it is not a literal translation.
A New Dish
One step, two steps
on the path to my first poetry
in my mother tongue,
after spending some time
dwelling in English.
It feels like my feet glide
into old, cherished shoes
ordinary, yet full of power,
a certain freedom unfolds.
Suddenly, I pluck clouds,
bathed in warm sunbeams,
and visibly frolic, dance,
on these shoes that reconcile me
with yesterday.
This language is a part of me
like my hands, my eyes,
the sound of my voice
they make me whole.
As if two dear friends meet;
my poetry and mother tongue
finding one another for the first time,
like two ingredients
blending into a new dish.
And after tasting it, I softly say:
“Mmm, yes, this calls for more.”
Hi Marja - so clever ... well done -I'll be back to read the Dutch through ... similar to Afrikaans - not that I can speak that either ... !! But so well worked out ... another string to your bow ... so pleased for you - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteNice try! Your poem gives much honor to your mother tongue. There's nothing like our first language.English is my ..third language. I write my blog in english so that I reach more people, feel more universal ; but the truth is I feel at my best in my native language.
ReplyDeleteI have tried to write in Swedish and then translating afterwards a few times... to me it sounded like another poet writing, another voice in my mother tongue I feel.
ReplyDeleteWell done Marja, great that you took up the challenge. I too double dip in the two languages and as you pointed out, exact translation isn't possible. It feels liberating to be able to express one's (my)self in both languages. Looking forward to seeing more of the same.
ReplyDeleteIt is as if two loved
ReplyDeleteones; my poetry and my mother tongue
meet each other for the first time.. Marja I love this... I wish I could write in my mother tongue.. But I don't think in it, nor know it well enough to write poetry.
What a lovely poem, I always admire anyone who can learn to speak a different tongue.. And I often think how then when you devote your life to speaking in a tongue other than the one you were brought up in, then your thoughts, that inner dialogue must still speak in your native tongue..
ReplyDeleteLovely poem and like those two dishes side by side, just perfect..
Wishing you and your family a beautiful day..
Love and HUGS.. Sue xxx
Mother tongue is something else, no doubt. I have started translating songs of Tagore but as you say 'you loose beginning rhymes and the likes' & they are never a proper representation. But it's really a moment of beauty & wonder when the two meet.
ReplyDeletethose "old cherished shoes" must surely be the ones you can walk best in when it comes to expression - admire anyone who writes so well in other than their mother tongue
ReplyDeleteThis is so incredibly touching!💞 Especially love; "It is as if two loved ones; my poetry and my mother tongue meet each other for the first time".. *swoooon*💞
ReplyDeleteShe who has two tongues is doubly blessed!
ReplyDeleteYES! Definitely more of this gliding in old cherished shoes, this thinking and writing in your mother tongue. This is beautiful, Marja, and i thought your trabslation worked wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteWell done Marja, I find writing tricky enough in my mother tongue, writing so well in a second language is super impressive.
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful and a good retreat to go back to our roots.
ReplyDeleteJust wonderful, Marja. Though you said that your translation into English is not perfect, I feel the message strongly. It must be wonderful to experience this freedom. I like the way that your poetry and mother tongue met for the first time. I hope this will be the first of many such poems!
ReplyDeleteThere is beauty and comfort to be found in the reclaiming of something we love.
ReplyDeleteI have endless admiration for anyone who can write poetry in other than their native tongue. BRAVO
ReplyDeleteVery nicely done ! And since mijn moedertaal is also Dutch - although from long ago - I found it interesting to read in both languages. Like you said, some of the nuances in the original do not come out in the translation, however, that is not a loss to those who only understand English.
ReplyDeleteYour joy in doing this is easily felt and makes this writer envious of the experience,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
This is awesome! 'my poetry and my mother tongue meet each other for the first time' ... I can only imagine how moving that must have been. This was a pleasure to read, Marja.
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely lovely to see your Dutch poem...I only wish I could read the original Dutch language version....both I am sure convey your love of your first language melding with your love of poetry...'just like two ingredients, form a new
ReplyDeletedish together for the first time'....magic!
Donna@LivingFromHappiness
Often wondered how translators do their jobs. An Air Force buddy, who served in Japan and learned the language told me stories how English and Japanese really don't mesh at all.
ReplyDeleteThis feels so layered and beautifully structured in English. I only speak English, but I can imagine and appreciate the level of difficulty involved in writing this in dual languages.
ReplyDeleteIt is a magic moment!!! I love this new dish.
ReplyDeleteWat een leuke vertaling van dartel en dans :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are so clever to be able to write poetry in both languages.
ReplyDeleteHow delightful to feel your feet gliding in cherished old shoes. I'm impressed at your being able to write in both languages.
ReplyDeleteI miss you in bogland. I hope all is well.
ReplyDeletethanks Yes miss it too but I have so many things going on at the moment and soon going overseas Will come back here in a few months I hope
Delete