Monday, June 22, 2009

What happiness is?


One of my favorite summer poems is by our norwegian writer Inger Hagerup. Of course it's always difficult to translate a poem. It just looses something when you put it into a new language. Something of the magic of the words, the sounds, the rhythm and the feeling disappears...

But I'm still going to make an attempt. For all my norwegian readers you can find this poem somewhere in norwegian - read it and enjoy. For all you foreign readers; here is my translation:

What happiness is?

Walking on a grassy path through the woods

in delicately soft summer clothes

Scratching new mosquito bites with lazy afterthought

and being young and very rich

in unexperienced love

Having a fragile cobweb caress your mouth and cheek

thinking about weather and wind.

Maybe waiting for a letter

Asking the daisy for advice

and maybe yes – and maybe no

he loves – he doesn't love me so

But still not knowing you

Inger Hagerup

5 comments:

Valerie said...

Oh, I think that poem is beautiful in any language (although I do understand you reference to loss in translation)!

I reread it several times and it evokes the most beautiful images. Thank you for sharing it!

Valerie

M said...

Å ja!!
Det diktet er SÅ nydelig, og det har dukket opp i minnet mitt flere ganger i det siste....
Jeg liker oversettelsen din!!
Klem, M

Unknown said...

Så nydelig oversettelse, vennen!!! Nydelig er du!
Og jeg tenkte på her i natt (hvorfor i natt, hm....) hvor mye jeg setter pris på deg og på dere som vennepar, så deilig å kunne ha det så morsomt!!
Løvely!
Nå har jeg pratet så varmt om deg hos Kathrin på Dans på roser, hun begynte å skjønne hvem du er, hehe...
Nyt dagene!
God klem fra Nanni ~

Lisas hjem og skatter said...

diktet der er nydelig!!! har hatt det siden jeg var lita :) men, på norsk da..
ha ei super helg!!!

klem

Anonymous said...

She is so beautiful!And a lovely poem too!

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