lunes, 7 de diciembre de 2015

Qué es ser humano, por Waldo Williams (Pa yw beth din?)

¿Qué es vivir? En un rincón
poseer una gran sala.
¿Conocerse? Una raíz
compartir bajo las ramas.

¿Qué es creer? Es esperar
que finalice el suplicio.
¿Perdonar? Cruzar espinas
y abrazar al enemigo.

¿Qué es cantar? Es el aliento
del genio creador venido.
¿Trabajo? En una canción
tararear madera y trigo.

¿Gobernar, qué es? Un arte 
que aún gatea. ¿Armamentismo?
En el puño de un bebé
introducir un cuchillo.

¿Qué es nación? Es un regalo
al corazón dirigido.
¿Amarla? Llevarnos dentro
a quienes hemos perdido.

Para el rico ¿qué es la Tierra?
Una elipse giradora.
¿Para los niños del mundo?
Una cuna mecedora.

Traducción al español de Geraldina Mendez,
basada en las tres traducciones al inglés provistas a continuación del poema original galés.

Original en galés:

PA BETH YW DYN?
Waldo Williams

Beth yw byw? Cael neuadd fawr 
Rhwng cyfyng furiau
Beth yw adnabod? Cael un gwraidd
Dan y canghennau.

Beth yw credu? Gwarchod tref
Nes dyfod derbyn.
Beth yw maddau? Cael ffordd trwy'r drain
At ochr hen elyn.

Beth yw canu? Cael o'r creu
Ei hen athrylith.
Beth yw gweithio ond gwneud cân
O'r coed a'r gwenith?

Beth yw trefnu teyrnas? Crefft
Sydd eto'n cropian
A'i harfogi? Rhoi'r cyllyll
Yn llaw'r baban.

Beth yw bod yn genedl? Dawn
Yn nwfn y galon.
Beth yw gwladgarwch? Cadw ty
Mewn cwmwl tystion.

Beth yw'r byd i'r nerthol mawr?
Cylch yn treiglo.
Beth yw'r byd i blant y llawr?
Crud yn siglo.

Traducciones al inglés consultadas

WHAT IS MAN?
by Waldo Williams, translation by Tony Conran
Tomado de 
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/DYFED/2008-10/1224871067

To live, what is it? It's having
A great hall between cramped walls.
To know another, what's that? Having
The same root under the branches

To believe, what is it? Guarding a town
Until acceptance comes.
Forgiveness, what's that? A way through thorns
To an old enemy's side.

Singing, what is that? The ancient
Genius of the creation.
What's work but making a song
Of the trees and the wheat?

To rule a kingdom, what's that? A craft
That is crawling still.
And to arm it? You put a knife
In a baby's hand.

Being a nation, what is it? A gift
In the depths of the heart.
Patriotism, what's that? Keeping house
In a cloud of witnesses.

What's the world to the strong?
Hoop a-rolling.
To the children of earth, what is it?
A cradle rocking. 

WHAT IS IT TO BE HUMAN?
by Waldo Williams, translation by Menna Elfin
Tomado de:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/181322

What is staying alive? To possess   
A great hall inside of a cell.
What is it to know? The same root
Underneath the branches.

What is it to believe? Being a carer   
Until relief takes over.
And to forgive? On fours through thorns
To keep company to an old enemy.

What is it to sing? To receive breath
From the genius of creation.
What's work but humming a song
From wood and wheat.

What are state affairs? A craft
That's still only crawling?
And armaments? Thrust a knife
In a baby's fist.

Being a nation? What can it be? A gift
In the swell of the heart.
And to love a country? Keeping house
In a cloud of witnesses.

What's the world to the all powerful?
A circle spinning.
And to the children of the earth?
A cradle rocking.


WHAT IS MAN? 
by Waldo Williams, translated by Rowan Williams
Tomado de:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/dec/07/poem-of-the-week-what-is-man-by-waldo-williams-translated-by-rowan-williams

What is living? The broad hall found
between narrow walls.
What is acknowledging? Finding the one root
under the branches’ tangle.

What is believing? Watching at home
till the time arrives for welcome.
What is forgiving? Pushing your way through thorns
to stand alongside your old enemy.

What is singing? The ancient gifted breath
drawn in creating.
What is labour but making songs
from the wood and the wheat?

What is it to govern kingdoms? A skill
still crawling on all fours.
And arming kingdoms? A knife placed
in a baby’s fist.

What is it to be a people? A gift
lodged in the heart’s deep folds.
What is love of country? Keeping house
among a cloud of witnesses.

What is the world to the wealthy and strong? A wheel,
turning and turning.
What is the world to earth’s little ones? A cradle,
rocking and rocking.


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