Sunday, February 17, 2008
ghazal: "gained in translation"
None dispute lots can be lost but some can be gained in translation
certainly large looms the cost yet strands are sustained in translation
stars find translation through earth astrology charts out the method
bridges are built to be crossed a journey explained in translation
love we translate as desire a version at times one finds wanting
death gets recast as a ghost aversion grows pained in translation
facts are translated as fiction fictions return the good favor
lack you translate as a boast my waxing has waned in translation
sculptors rely on lost wax the fragile translates to the sturdy
memories pondered by Proust large volumes unrein in translation
the rendering dubbed "Raphael" is that an original work?
bread upon waters when cast lost soul is regained in translation
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My first blog post in a long time! Generally these days I'm writing poetry in a physical notebook, by pen. But this ghazal has a long line, and the idea for it occurred while online (at an internet cafe) -- and so I've here returned to an old (former) custom of writing online, directly in the blog space.
Baroda afternoon
d.r.i.
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Notes:
"lost wax" (in couplet 5): -- a technical term related to a careful and interesting process (dating from the Renaissance if not perhaps earlier) in which a wax version of the sculptural work is lost, and a bronze (or other metallic) version is, in end, gained.
When I saw the title of one of the upcoming poetry presentations at the Prithvi Theatre (happening in Bombay, 17th Feb. -- I can't be there; but see: Gained in Translation), I immediately composed the first couplet, above; and from that flows the rest of the ghazal.
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2 comments:
Hi David,
"Gained in Translation" is definitely optimistic compared to "Lost in Translation." Though even that is known to happen, just as you've written. Translating love into desire is only one translation. Thanks.
Best, Laju K.
Long-belated thanks for your remarks, Laju.
cheers,
d.i.
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