KOLAJNA XIV | THE NECKLACE XIV |
Tin Ujević | trans. Richard Burns & Daša
Mari![]() (from Croatian) |
U ovoj gužvi, ovoj stisci bez oca i bez učitelja bio sam sàm, a moji vrisci, svi, nose pečat mojih želja. I svakim slikom, svakim zvukom dio sam svoje duše dao, i strijeljao sam lakim lukom, i gadao sam gdje sam znao. Izgarah dati nešto Novo, a bog moj bio moj je Bedem; i duh je kriv, i svijetlo Slovo, ako tek drač i korov jedem. Najgore tek je u toj stvari što evo vidim, monotono: umro Duh je - onaj Stari - i ja sam danas mrtvo Zvono. |
Amid the pressing milling throng Without a guide and fatherless. Ive lived alone and groaned too long: Groans bear my seal of hopefulness. I hunted every sound and sight, I gladly parcelled out my soul, I flexed my bow, my aim was right, And every shot attained its goal. I blazed to give out more to all, With light my letter, God my trust, And my own spirit criminal If thorn and bramble were my crust. But now the dreariest to end All things is, in this dreary hell, My spirits dead - my oldest friend - And I a cracked and empty bell. |
Copyright © Tin Ujevic: transl. copyright © Richard Burns & Dasa Maric 2006