Assignment 8

Analyse the English versions of the following poem by Nichita Stănescu. First, you are to analyse the SL poem starting from its integration into a specific literary period and trend, continuing with its integration into Stănescu’s literary work and ending with a detailed analysis of its denotative and connotative content and of its fixed form. Then you have to compare the rendition of all these elements in the TL versions.

EMOTIE DE TOAMNA
de Nichita Stanescu

A venit toamna, acopera-mi inima cu ceva,
cu umbra unui copac sau mai bine cu umbra ta.

Mă tem că n-am să te mai văd, uneori,
că or să-mi crească aripi ascuţite până la nori,
că ai să te ascunzi într-un ochi străin,
şi el o să se-nchidă cu o frunză de pelin.

Şi-atunci mă apropii de pietre şi tac,
iau cuvintele şi le-nec în mare.
Şuier luna şi o răsar şi o prefac
într-o dragoste mare.

AUTUMN LOVE

English translation by Sean Cotter, 2012

Autumn is here, cover my heart with something,
the shadow of a tree, or better, the shadow of you.

Sometimes I’m afraid I will see you no more,
that my sharp wings might grow up to the clouds,
that you’ll hide within an odd eye,
and it will shut under a wormwood leaf.

Then I step toward the rocks and fall silent,
I pick words up and drown them in the ocean.
I whistle the moon to rise and make it
into a great emotion.

AUTUMN EMOTION
English translation by Cristina Hanganu-Bresch

Autumn came so please cover my heart with the
Tree shade—or yours so it won’t wither.

I fear that perhaps I won’t see you sometimes
That I’ll grow sharp wings up to the skies
That you’ll hide within a foreign eye
Which will close with a bitter good-bye.

And then I go near the rocks and shut up.
Take the words and drown them in the sea.
I whistle the moon and rise it and turn it
Into a big love.