Joseph P. Clancy
Translator
on Lyrikline: 1 poems translated
from: valižanščina to: angleščina
Original
Translation
Cyplau
valižanščina | Menna Elfyn
Murddyn yw byw. Ninnau, mynnwn ei drwsio
at ddiddosrwydd. Gyda’n dwylo ei saernio
at frig adeilad. Nes clymu o dano nenbren,
a wylia holl fynd a dod ein byw heb wybren.
Dau rwymyn cam. Naddwyd hwy’n gyfan,
yn gyffion cytun, yn drawstiau llyfn a llydan.
Cyfarfod dau. Dyna’r grefft a fagwn wrth amgau
dros ffrâm dau gnawd gan asio’r llyfnus gyplau
sydd weithiau’n enfysu’n un. Ar ogwydd uwch yr oerfyd,
geubrennau’n chwiffio serch. Yna’n stond am ennyd.
A’r to mor elwig ar dro yn gwichian cariad
wrth ddwrdio’r gwyfyn draw. I aros tro ei gennad.
Tarset: Bloodaxe, 2007
Audio production: Wales Literature Exchange
Couplings
angleščina
Life is a house in ruins. And we mean to fix it up
And make it snug. With our hands we knock it into shape
To the very top. Till beneath this we fasten a roofbeam
That will watch the coming and going of our skyless life,
Two crooked segments. They are fitted together,
Timbers in concord. Smooth beams, and wide.
Two in touch. That’s the craft we nurture in folding
Doubled flesh on a frame. Conjoining the smooth couplings
That sometimes arch into one. Aslant above a cold world,
Hollow wood wafting passion. Then stock still for a time.
And how clear cut the roof, creaking love at times,
As it chides the worm to keep off and await its turn.