Salvador Pila 
Translator

on Lyrikline: 3 poems translated

from: catalan to: english

Original

Translation

Vinyes verdes vora el mar

catalan | Josep Maria de Sagarra

Vinyes verdes vora el mar,
ara que el vent no remuga,
us feu més verdes i encar
teniu la fulla poruga,
vinyes verdes vora el mar.

Vinyes verdes del coster,
sou més fines que la userda.
Verd vora el blau mariner,
vinyes amb la fruita verda,
vinyes verdes del coster.

Vinyes verdes, dolç repòs,
vora la vela que passa;
cap al mar vincleu el cos
sense decantar-vos massa,
vinyes verdes, dolç repòs.

Vinyes verdes, soledat
del verd en l'hora calenta.
Raïm i cep retallat
damunt la terra lluenta;
vinyes verdes, soledat.

Vinyes que dieu adéu
al llagut i a la gavina,
i al fi serrellet de neu
que ara neix i que ara fina...
Vinyes que dieu adéu!

Vinyes verdes del meu cor...
Dins del cep s'adorm la tarda,
raïm negre, pàmpol d'or,
aigua, penyal i basarda.
Vinyes verdes del meu cor...

Vinyes verdes vora el mar,
verdes a punta de dia,
verd suau cap al tard...
Feu-nos sempre companyia,
vinyes verdes vora el mar!

© Josep Maria de Sagarra
from: Cançons de rem i de vela
Audio production: Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya

Green vineyards near the sea

english

Green vineyards near the sea,
now that the wind does not grumble,
you turn greener and yet,
your leaves are still fearful,
green vineyards near the sea.

Green vineyards, sweet repose
near the sail that moves along;
you bend your form towards the sea
without slanting in excess,
green vineyards, sweet repose.

Vineyards that wish farewell
to the catboat and the seagull,
and to the fine trimming of snow
that now appears and then expires…
Vineyards that wish farewell!

Green vineyards of my heart…
In your stems slumbers the evening,
black grapes, golden leaves,
water, scarp, and awe.
Green vineyards of my heart…

Green vineyards near the sea,
green at daybreak,
pale green in the evenfall…
Keep us company forever,
green vineyards near the sea!

Translated by Salvador Pila
http://www.eduardtoldrasoler.info/index/complete-catalog/songs/can-de-passar-cantant.

Cançó de passar cantant

catalan | Josep Maria de Sagarra

Si ve l’abril tremolant
i el ventet que no reposa
i el perfum de Dijous Sant,
noia, no cullis la rosa:
passa cantant.

Si les trampes van picant,
si treuen vestits de festa
la geganta i el gegant,
noia, no llencis ginesta:
passa cantant.

Si la gent, ploriquejant,
camina amb la vista baixa,
si va la creu endavant,
noia, no guaitis la caixa:
passa cantant.

Si la nit de Sant Joan
Amb el riure no t’esveres,
Si t’hi volen al voltant,
noia, deixa’t de fogueres:
passa cantant.

Si t’escomet un galant,
tot tendresa, tot deliris,
defallint i sospirant,
no l’escoltis ni te’l miris:
passa cantant.

Si una vella xiuxejant
t’augura una mala estrella
i et diu que se’t marciran
aquests aires de poncella
i aquesta galta tan bella
no durarà ni un instant,
noia, riu-te’n de la vella:
passa cantant!

© Josep Maria de Sagarra
Audio production: Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya

Song to pass, by singing

english

If April comes shivering,
and the breeze that does not cease,
and the perfume of Maundy Thursday,
girl, do not pluck the rose:
pass by, singing.

If the drums are beating,
if they wear festive dresses,
the giantess and the giant,
girl, do not throw broom flowers:
pass by, singing.

If people, whining,
walk with downcast eyes,
if the cross goes ahead,
girl, do not look at the coffin:
pass by, singing.

If a gallant man makes advances,
all tenderness, all ravings,
faltering and sighing,
do not listen nor look at him:
pass by, singing.

If an old maid, in a whisper,
predicts bad fortune to you,
and tells you that they will wither
these maiden looks,
and that these cheeks so beautiful,
will not last for a moment,
girl, laugh at the old woman:
pass by, singing!

Translated by Salvador Pila

Cançó de vela

catalan | Josep Maria de Sagarra

Arrenca el gep flexible de l’onada,
canta la boira, xiula el bufarut,
ens esquitxa un riuxim d’aigua salada
i grinyolen els dintres del llagut.
Ai, qui pensa en l’amor,
oh, mar sonor!
ai, qui pensa en l’amor!
Enllà tenim les costes oblidades,
enllà hi ha el poble blanquinós, suau,
i el llagut, vinga salts i patacades,
enmig del gran deliri verd i blau.
A terra hi hem deixat coses marcides
dels nostres sentiments i voluntats
i ara es van aclarint les nostres vides
com els serrells d’escuma platejats.
Allà hi ha el neguiteig del nostre viure,
les punxes a l’aguait de nostra pell,
ara els neguits són coses de per riure,
dintre el llagut que va tot de gairell.
Au... canta, mariner, xiscla, ventada!
no perdi prou el teu delit valent;
infla’t, vela; remunta, aigua salada;
sacseja’ns brutalment.
Sacseja’ns brutalment, o mar sonor!
Esmicola les penes de l’amor.

© Josep Maria de Sagarra
Audio production: Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya

Sailing Song

english

The supple hump of the wave springs up,
the mist sings, whistles the gust,
we are splashed by a surge of salty water
and the belly of the catboat squeaks.
Oh, who thinks of love,
oh, sonorous sea!
oh, who thinks of love!
Farther away, the forgotten shores,
the whitish village, subdued,
and the catboat keeps jumping and bumping
in the midst of the green and blue frenzy.
On land, we have left things withered
from our feelings and desires
and now our lives are becoming clearer
like the fringes of silvery foam.
Over there, the restlessness of our living,
thorns awaiting our skin,
now our concerns are laughing matter,
inside the catboat that sails aslant.
Come on… sing sailor, wind howl!
so that your brave stamina does not diminish;
swell out sails; salty water rise;
shake us mercilessly.
Shake us mercilessly, oh sonorous sea!
Smash our sorrows of love.

Translated by Salvador Pila: http://www.eduardtoldrasoler.info/index/complete-catalog/songs/can-de-passar-cantant