| LJIS JETA KISHË NDËRRUAR ... | THE EARTH HAD TRANSFORMED THE OAKS ... |
| Girolamo de Rada | trans. Robert Elsie (from Albanian) |
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Ljis jeta kishë ndërruar, Uj të ri ndë dejtit Kaljthëruar te dit e re; Por llumbardh e Anakreontit Ronej Temp e moçëme. Nd'uj një dit vate të malji E s'u pruar si kish zakon. Vet çë atë s'e thajti bora, S'e përgjaku akulli, Se m'u resht njera çë ra Tek e bardha shpia ime. Kur te drita dheu me shpi U sbuljua je dejti, Si garea çë delj për sish, Mua më zëgjoi, tue fjuturuar Qeljqevet finestërës. M'u pataksa e ruata jashtin: Rusht pak skallankur Dheut ën i kin hje; Ljulje ljiu të gapura, Nd'era i tundën e përzien Nd'at ninulj qeshënjën. Si ato ljulje qielli. Ti ruaje e së kuljtoje. Një mbuin njerëzish. Kallëzoret mbë dhemat Mbajn kangjelje. Ka i goi Ahjena ndër time motëra Kishi arrën e mëma ime Emërin tim thoj për ndë shpi. Një gare m'u rodh te kurmi, Si garea mbrëmjes te shtrati, Kur vajza e ngrohët Ndien për të parëzën Sist çë m'i frihjen. |
The earth had transformed the oaks, Fresh sea water sparkled Blue at the new day rising; But the dove of Anacreon Lived on in ancient Tempe. One day it departed for the mountains for water And did not return as was its habit. It did not freeze in the snow Nor was it wounded by an arrow, But flew onward until it landed At my happy home. When the house and land Reappeared beside the sea at dawn, What joy welled in my eyes. It awoke me, brushing Against the window panes. I arose and looked outside: The grapes in the ripening vineyards Covered our fields, The blossoming flax Swayed in the wind, Gently smiling, and like its blossoms Was the colour of the sky. You could look out and forget The cares of this world. The gleaners were singing Amidst the sheaves. I had just Returned from abroad, to be reunited With my sisters. My name was Constantly on my mother's lips. A joy filled my body Like that of a fair maiden Who, in the warmth of her bed at night, Senses her breasts Beginning to swell. |
Trans. Copyright © Robert Elsie 1995.