tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565845984512808077.post6848957052140130001..comments2024-02-28T16:53:27.515+01:00Comments on Poemas del río Wang: For after the end of the worldStudiolumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06377777909296284368noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565845984512808077.post-40147338418582171732010-04-05T22:13:11.630+02:002010-04-05T22:13:11.630+02:00Thank you, Language, both for your opinion and for...Thank you, Language, both for your opinion and for the correction. Yes, the poem is in fact a gem, and it is really interesting to discover that it has penetrated our culture on so many levels exactly like a perfect musical invention.<br /><br />I have just seen what a misfortune has fallen on you. I cross my fingers so you could get your domain name back before any vulture swoops down on it. The daily reading (and occasional commenting) of your blog has become such a strong habit that I cannot imagine to miss it for a long time.Studiolumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377777909296284368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565845984512808077.post-83403171922025054562010-04-05T16:00:24.542+02:002010-04-05T16:00:24.542+02:00Thanks for this wonderful post! "Wandrers Na...Thanks for this wonderful post! "Wandrers Nachtlied" (no -e-, by the way) has always been one of my favorite poems; I once called it "the most beautiful poem in German," though of course I should have said the most beautiful poem I know in German (particularly since German poetry is not one of my specialties). It is spectacularly hard to translate, and sounds so great in the original I'm not surprised you were required to memorize it in German. Repeating it to myself gives me the same kind of deep pleasure as hearing, say, the trio "Soave sia il vento" from <i>Così fan tutte</i>, another perfect nugget of esthetic pleasure.Languagehathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13285708503881129380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565845984512808077.post-25229987071757973922010-04-05T10:21:47.084+02:002010-04-05T10:21:47.084+02:00You're right, I was too fast and imprecise, so...You're right, I was too fast and imprecise, sorry. Still, I am not sure of the perfect equivalence.<br /><br />Despite Italians do not have that Einstellung (as the word itself indicates :-)), what is maintained - I feel - is the global sense of general suspension and the strong connection (in terms of meaning and of sound) between "quiete" and "requie".<br /><br />As to the connection between "warten" and "guardare", it is really fascinating (and most Italians would have missed it).francescahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13096867858651484894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565845984512808077.post-16811580082073568122010-04-05T01:07:13.374+02:002010-04-05T01:07:13.374+02:00and yes – it immediately came to my mind right aft...and yes – it immediately came to my mind right after the comment but then I had to leave – there’s also the beautiful archaic etymological connection between warten & guardare.Studiolumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377777909296284368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565845984512808077.post-26636513545480604852010-04-04T18:54:27.986+02:002010-04-04T18:54:27.986+02:00A beautiful version.
I think “Warte nur” has not ...A beautiful version.<br /><br />I think “Warte nur” has not disappeared. In fact, in colloquial German it does not exactly mean “just wait”, but rather a more general imperative of consideration, and “guarda” is a perfect equivalent for it.<br /><br />What I do miss, however, is “die Ruhe” über allen Gipfeln. Somehow the personification of Quiet hovering above the mountains is more German and more faithful to the Einstellung of the period than the Italian version transforming it to a simple adjective.Studiolumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377777909296284368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565845984512808077.post-7360369087546986512010-04-03T20:11:41.944+02:002010-04-03T20:11:41.944+02:00Beautiful post.
Franco Fortini, an Italian poet, ...Beautiful post.<br /><br />Franco Fortini, an Italian poet, dared to translate it like this:<br /><br />Quiete tutte le cime.<br /><br />Su tutte le rame alte<br />appena un fiato.<br /><br />Muti i piccoli uccelli del bosco.<br /><br />Fra poco, guarda<br />requie anche per te.<br /><br />Obwohl "Warten nur" komplett verschwunden ist, finde ich es wunderschön.francescahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13096867858651484894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565845984512808077.post-6411098861024740362010-04-03T00:06:21.145+02:002010-04-03T00:06:21.145+02:00It may also appear incompatible (like the unhappin...It may also appear incompatible (like the unhappiness of the vacations in Arcadia) but I am so happy having nor read Dr Zhivago by Boris Pasternak and so I am in a bliss reading it now. This is the book I carry with me. <br /><br />a/ I don’t know whether the “what-book-would-you-take-with-you” test has a definable historical root. Alexander the Great used to carry Homer with him but this was not because he had to choose. I have also indulged with the idea in Kalvos’ bees (having Stanley in mind), when young Petros, preparing for his journey to England had to choose which of his favourite books has to abandon, since he could carry a heavy backpack. <br />I promise, to tell you the answer for Stanley as soon as possible. <br /><br />b/I absolutely agree with you. It appears that the chain of interpretations of a work of art is longer than we think. Since along with the author’s associations and influences (past tense) we have also the reader’s personal mythologies (future tense) influencing and inspiring new books like Kehlman’s and Tolstaya’s and brilliant posts such as yours. <br /><br />Thank you so much for your wishes for Easter and spiritual charging!Πόλυ Χατζημανωλάκηhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01569886842775925862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565845984512808077.post-17229953477869261752010-04-02T22:17:38.252+02:002010-04-02T22:17:38.252+02:00I’m absolutely sure that “unfortunately” and “bein...I’m absolutely sure that “unfortunately” and “being on Mount Mainalon” are incompatible with each other. ;) <i>Et ego…</i> would like to be that unfortunate one day. Will you tell me which book you took with you to your Arcadian solitude? (apart from your <i>note</i>book, of course)<br /><br />I did not know that the “what-book-would-you-take-with-you” test goes back to Stanley – or that it had any definable historical root at all. I would be curious of the various personal preferences of various people over times. (On second thought, this is a quite real problem to me as well each time when I leave from home and want to take <i>one</i> book with me on the way. True, in this case the main point is its legibility, but, strangely enough, it also has to be somehow “worthy” to spend so much time in my company as the only book. Therefore on such occasions it takes an unusually long time to choose the appropriate traveling companion.)<br /><br />I am fascinated by the interpretations inseparably wrapping the works of art like this one, suggested to Goethe by Alcman, incorporated into his personal mythology by him, and elevated to the rank of a cultural icon by his admirers. A chain of interpretation without which it would be a charming little poem for sure, but nothing comparable to its present importance. It reminds me of Chinese literature whose history is full of similar chains of interpretations and evaluations inseparably intertwined with the poems themselves and co-influencing the works inspired by them. Sometimes I feel that in “correctly” understanding such a poem, its very text plays the least role.<br /><br />I also wish a happy and peaceful Easter for you and all your beloved, and a full spiritual charging in these days in the homeland of all poets!Studiolumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377777909296284368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565845984512808077.post-73802092565487183232010-04-02T10:08:42.559+02:002010-04-02T10:08:42.559+02:00Captivating!
I have the impression that it was St...Captivating! <br />I have the impression that it was Stanley, the great explorer and journalist that brought up first the issue of having to chose only one book in a situation “post” or “pre” civilization as Africa (The Amazon of Daniel Kehlman/Anti –utopian Tatyana Tolstaya ) appeared in his mind. <br />Unfortunately, we are on Easter Holidays on Mount Mainalon (Just like Poussin shepherds) and I cannot consult my library on what was Stanley’s choice. I also believe that Gustave Flaubert had his own suggestions on the subject but again, I cannot rely on my memory…<br />With my best wishes for a Happy Easter for both of you and all your beloved please accept my congratulations for this excellent post. <br />The childhood memories of the poem’s recitation, the reflections on the context on the content of the poem and its history – tracing influences back to Alcman – and the association of the “writ in water” with the wall of the cabin on which the poem was engraved reveal a personal stamp – a personal mythology through which we receive the poem, which is indulging and rewarding!Πόλυ Χατζημανωλάκηhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01569886842775925862noreply@blogger.com