The prompt today was to find a poem in a language you don’t know, and then try to work out your own version. This prompt draws you in, and shakes you while you try to do justice to words you don’t know. I found this poem on Poetry International, and was drawn to the title. I did not read the poem in English until I was done with my version. Anka Zagar is a Croatian poet, who has published six books of poetry. I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
VERMEER
usla je sa svih strana
u vodu koja sa svih strana
osamljuje te. hoce se sjetiti
kako je usla
djevojka koja
stavila bisere
By Anka Zagar
Vermeerlight fills the open window
by meg
and she sits in the open window
gazing at you. eyes up slightly
face fills with light
patiently sits
hold your breath
And by popular request is the English Translation of Anka Zagar’s poem. And again, I did not read it before I constructed my poem. I was happy to see they were both about the same painting.
Vermeer
she has come in from all sides
into the water that makes you from all sides
alone wanting to remember
how she had come in,
that girl that would like to
put pearls on her neck
by Anka Zagar
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That last line, especially, works wonders!
Thank you Elizabeth.
Lovely! Congratulations.
Thank you :)
Congratulations on being featured participant, Meg! We both chose Croatian poems, and you made a great job of yours. I didn’t see this poem, which I would have chosen as I love the artist Vermeer; I have visited Delft and the Vermeer exhibition. Your poem captures a light-filled moment beautifully.
Thank you Kim. Some words clearly repeated, and that made it tricky, to stay true to those repeats. I had not looked at much Croatian before, and now I am captivated with it.
Beautiful
Thank you Donna
Lovely how you capture the feeling emanating from the scene!
Thank you Johanna. I kept the picture in front of me while I tried to place the words.
Ah! Wonderful, and so peculiar how you ended your version. The original poem I understand too (I’m Slovenian), so it’s extra interesting for me. I hope people find out the translation of the original too (maybe you can add the link?).
Thank you Manja. I have now posted the translation, and I am so glad I did. Anka deserves more readers :)
Thank you. Just for fun let me add my own translation of the original poem which I am doing as I write (since I was really disappointed with the last four lines of the translation above).
VERMEER
she entered from all sides
the water that from all sides
makes you lonely. she tries to remember
how she got in,
the girl who
put on pearls
I do like your translation better. Thank you so much for taking the time for the girl who puts on pearls.
Short and sweet
Thank you Gloria. I, too, am short, and try to be sweet, so I respond well to the depiction.
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Thank you so much with the feature. I was quite thrilled and surprised.
Lovely! So well done, and a well-deserved feature.
Thank you Cris
Yes, Lovely. Wish you’d published the real translation as well. Can’t imagine it being better than your imagined version!
Thank you Judy! I took your advice and put the real translation on my post. I’m glad you suggested it.
Yes, we stare at each other, the sun and I.
The sun and the moon and I, and you :)
Your poem is beautiful and very attentive to the original text. A portrait in just a few well-chosen words!
Thank you Stephanie. Well said :)
I love this, LuckyCat Meg!
Thank you Merriedots!