El modesto misterio

I decided to read the essay of Jose Manuel Prieto: “La ultima cena del capitalism.”  It is interesting because it is rare to see how a translator could review his own work.  In this essay he talks about the translation of the poem “Epigrama contra Stalin.” I noticed that all his work was a challenge but at the same time he felt proud and honor. To be able to make a coherent and concrete translation I realized that he used a detail description in order to make a coherent work.

It is interesting how a translator feels when translation the work of other author because this is not only a challenge but also an honor. He knew that the poem was also translated to French but he also knew that this version was not good enough compare with the original version. Prieto’s responsibility was to not loose the sense of the poem and try to make it as coherent as the original.

An Israeli tradition tells the story of a prophet who was passing by a net when a bird nearby said to him “ Have you ever seen a man so simple as the one who hung this net to trap me?” The prophet walked away. On his way back he found the bird trapped in the net. “How strange” he said “Weren’t you just saying something to me a few moments ago?” “Prophet” the bird replied, “ when the time comes we can’t see nor hear.”

Above you’ll find, in all its glory,  group 4′s translation. Good team work =)

Te quiero así deliciosa insospechada
Porque creo en tu palabra
Porque yo siento que aún te necesito
Porque me alteras las ganas

Te quiero así estruendosa y delicada
Entre alegría y nostalgia
Porque me gusta tenerte vida mía
Y no quiero que te vayas
Porque el amor cuando es verdad sale del alma
Nos aturde los sentidos
Y de pronto descubrimos que la piel
Se enciende en llamas

Bien, tu amor me hace bien
Tu amor me desarma
Ay, tu amor me controla
Me endulza, me encanta
Pero bien, tu amor me hace bien
Tu amor me desarma
Ay tu amor me controla
Me vence, me amarra
Mira que me hace bien, que me hace bien

Te quiero así tan precisa equivocada
Con tus detalles que matan
Porque tenerte a mi lado me hace fuerte
Si eres mi reina y mi espada
Te quiero así cuando ríes cuando callas
Porque al caer me levantas
Porque mi voz y mi espíritu se agitan
Cuando dices que me amas
Porque tu amor como es verdad me vuelve el alma
Me despierta los sentidos
Y de pronto descubrí que aquí en mi piel
Se encienden llamas

Bien, ay tu amor me hace bien
Tu amor me desarma
Tu amor me controla
Me endulza, me encanta
Pero bien, tu amor me hace bien
Tu amor me desarma
Tu amor me controla
Me vence, me amarra

ENGLISH Translation by Karen

I love you as you are delicious unsuspected
because i believe in your word
because i feel i still need you
because you spike my desires

i love you as you are thunderous and delicate
between happiness and nostalgia
because i enjoy having you
and i dont want you to go
because when love is real it comes from the soul
our senses are stunned
and we suddenly realize that our skin bursts into fames
well, your love does me well
your love disassembles me
oh, your love controls me
it sweetens me, it enchants me
so well, your love does me well
your love disassembles me
oh your love controls me
it defeats me, it ties me down
look how good your love treats me, it does me well
i love you as you are so precisely wrong
with your details that kill
because having you by my side makes me strong
if you are my queen and my spade
i love you the way you are when you laugh and are silent
because when i fall you lift me up
because my voice and spirit agitates
when you tell me that you love me
because your love as true as it is turns my soul
it wakens me senses
and suddenly that here within my skin
bursts into flames
well, your love does me well
your love disassembles me
oh, your love controls me
it sweetens me, it enchants me
so well, your love does me well
your love disassembles me
oh your love controls me
it defeats me, it ties me down

An Israeli tradition tells the story of a prophet who was passing by a net when a bird nearby said to him “ Have you ever seen a man so simple as the one who hung this net to trap me?” The prophet walked away. On his way back he found the bird trapped in the net. “How strange” he said “Weren’t you just saying something to me a few moments ago?” “Prophet” the bird replied, “ when the time comes we can’t see nor hear.”

Above you’ll find, in all its glory,  group 4’s translation. Good team work =)

Earned Heaven

The day of the final judgment. God judges each and every man.

When He calls Manuel Cruz, He says:

-Man of little faith, you did not believe in me. Therefore you will not enter paradise.

-Oh Lord, -Cruz replies-, it’s true my faith has not been much. I’ve never believed in you, but I have always imagined you.

After listening, the Lord responds:

-Very well my son, you will enter heaven; but you will never have the certainty of finding yourself in it.

Gabriel Cristián Taboada (Buenos Aires, 1972).

Grupo 5: Lilyana, Erika, Magda, Cindy, Laura.

The promise of the king
Tostig, brother of the Saxon King of England, Harold, son of Godwin, coveted the power and allied with Harald Sigurdsson, King of Norway. ( He had fought in Constantinople Africa, his banner was called Landoda, Bleak Land, he was also a famous poet) With a Norwegian army they embarked on the east coast and surrended the castle of Jorvik. To the south of York they were confronted by the Saxon army. Twenty riders were gathered into the ranks of the invader,men and horses were dressed in iron. One of the riders screamed, is the count Tostig here? I do not deny being here,said the count. If you really are Tostig , said the rider .I come to tell you that your brother offers you his forgiveness, their frienship and the third part of the kingdon. Yes I accept, said Tostig- what will the king give to Harold Sigurdarson? He has not forgotten him, said the rider. He will give you six feet of English land, and since it is too high one more. So said Tostig tell your king to fight to the death. The riders returned. Harald Sigurdarson ask thoughtfuly who was the gentleman who also spoke very good? He was Harold ,Godwin son before the sun set that day the Norwegian army was defeated Harold Sigurdarson die in the battle and also the count.

The Judgment

That night, during the hour of the rat, the emperor dreamed that he had left his palace and in the darkness he walked through the garden, under the trees in bloom. Something knelt at his feet and begged for protection. The emperor agreed, the supplicant said that he was a dragon and that the stars had revealed to him that the following day, before nightfall, Wei Cheng, the emperors minister, will cut off his head. In the dream, the emperor swore to protect him.

Upon waking, the emperor asked for Wei Cheng. He was told he was not in the palace, so the emperor sent for him and had the minister occupied the whole day so he would not kill the dragon. Towards the evening, he suggested they play chess. The game lasted quite some time and the minister grew tired and fell asleep. A roar shook the earth. Shortly after, two captains stormed in carrying a huge dragon head soaked in blood. They threw it at the emperors feet and shouted:

-It fell from the sky!

Wei Cheng, who had awoken, looked at it with perplexity and observed:

-How strange, I dreamed I killed a dragon just like this.