Največje je nebo,
zato ker vanj lahko
spraviš sanje.
Največje je drevo,
zato ker v njem lahko
gnezdijo ptice.
Največje je morje,
zato ker se na njem
širi obzorje.
Največje je beseda,
zato ker z njo lahko
preden greš spat
poveš: Svet, imam te rad!
The biggest is the sky,
for up there way on high
we store our dreams
The biggest is a tree,
for there the birds so free
nest well, it seems
The biggest is the sea,
for beyond this we see
horizon’s gleams
The biggest is the word,
for with the word I tell you
before I sleep:
Dear World, how much I love you!
This was a challenge!
I found this poem carved into a wooden plaque tied to a tree whilst climbing up Slavnik, close to where I found the poem ‘Gozd.’ It was impossible to keep the rhyme scheme, metre and meaning all intact, so I changed the rhyme scheme slightly: I had to do this, because the words ‘sky,’ ‘tree,’ and ‘word’ don’t rhyme in English! I never realised it, but English is much harder to rhyme than many languages. Still, it was an interesting exercise. It isn’t a literal translation either, but pretty close (check Google translate if you don’t believe me 🤣.)
The poem is by Vinko Möderndorfer, a contemporary Slovene poet. I love that poetry is revered in Slovene culture. I believe it used to be the same in English…
This seems an appropriate poem to share with earthweal. The featured image shows the big sky above Slavnik.
Gracias 🔥😍👍
De nada!
Wow–Ingrid! I imagine it must be difficult to translate any poetry. So I’m very impressed! Lovely sentiment–and photos.
I wasn’t sure how fluent you are in Slovenian, since you mentioned there were no theaters with English performances.
(Should it be “there” in the second stanza?)
Thanks Merril! I actually find it quite fun, like a crossword puzzle type exercise! And yes, it should be ‘there’ thanks for spotting that 🤦🏽♀️
You’re welcome. I can see where it is sort of like doing a puzzle. I feel that way sometimes with my test writing assignments. 😀 But well done!
I hope you didn’t mind that I put that in the comments. It was such a minor thing.
Not at all: I often make typos when I’m tired, so I’d rather people tell me 😅
😀
Well done with translation Ingrid … and what a wonderful piece… I’m going store the poem in my ‘poem library collection’ …. as coincident happens .. I’m post a “World” later on tonight … and here is a sneak world premier for you .
“The World Could Be Falling Downhill”
I was walking in yesterday’s deluge
up a steep moldy hillside
Talking to my fading shadow
That was stalking deep puddles
While I was balking today’s thunderbolts
My knees were knocking in fright
and my hips were like, a rocking Noah’s Ark
hawking leftover manure in the dark
Nature’s mocking the world full of old lonely hearts
And knocking this year’s already drowning restart
Thank you for the sneak preview! 🤩
‘and my hips were like, a rocking Noah’s Ark
hawking leftover manure in the dark’
– what a wonderful image!
Haha .. Ivor’s nice way of saying I’ve got the shits up with this world of ours 😊🌏
😅
Thanks for the translation Ingrid. I am very impressed. Learning any foreign language is difficult, but this, like the poem itself, is on a different level. 👍🙂
Yeah, Slovenian is hard. 15 years of hard labour to get this far 😂
🤣🤣 You’ll be pretty good in another 15 years then!
😱
So lovely 🥰
Thank you Selma ❤️
Much respect for your translation skills! These are some nice little poetic gems.
~Ornery Owl~
Thank you most kindly!
Once again I’m impressed by all your talents. And I agree about poets being revered. I’m glad the feeling still lives somewhere. (K)
Apparently so! I would love to translate a book of these poems for the English speaking market, if such a market there is…
Why aren’t there poems tied to trees in the USA?? This was so cool, thanks for translating and sharing! 💗🌳💗
My pleasure! I think there should be poems tied to trees in every country! 🌲❤️
cool! thanks for sharing and going through the effort of translating, Ingrid!
All in a day’s work, David, thanks 😅
Wow! That’s impressive, Ingrid! Thanks for sharing. ❤️
My pleasure, Punam, thank you for reading! ❤️
whoa a challenge and very well done at that my friend. Nice job Ingrid!👏💖
Thank you Cindy 💕 it’s not hard to love the world 💕 🌎
You’re so welcome Ingrid!
No it is not! 💕
This translation seems a challenge – no one more perfect for the task than you. A fitting share with Earthweal. The Slovene language looks beautiful. Thank you for broadening our world! 🌎🌍🌏
My pleasure Michele! I thought about including audio, but my Slovene pronunciation is not the best 🤣❤️😅
When it feels right to do that, we will enjoy it! 😄 I am sure your Slovene is better than my Spanish.
Creó que no! 😜
😂
What a wonderful poem to find on a TREE/////how perfect! Thanks for sharing it.
I am glad you liked it Sherry! It’s time we all fell back in love with the world.
Beautiful post, Ingrid! I love the photo and the poem, and the story behind it. <3
Thank you, Cheryl: it warmed my heart, as does your comment ❤️
I love all this – beautiful poem – beautiful translation – beautiful story and phot. perhaps we should all tie poems to trees sometimes. (gently and careful in rope that will rot before the tree outgrows it)
I love this idea! Let’s make a start…
This is wonderful Ingrid. Bravo.
xoxoxo..
Thank you Gabriela: it was a lovely poem to translate 😊
🌹❤️