Category: Catalonia/Spain
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As if he heard rain
A powerful satirical poem by Antoni Cardona that we translated from his original in Catalan As if he heard rain Antoni Cardona TorrasCatalan translation of “Com si sentís ploure”, by Brett Hetherington and Antoni CardonaBadly brought up loutwho lies in bucketfulsand is easily found out,always smiling proudlywhen the Palace sycophantsflatter him.He governs to havehis friends…
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“Canigó:” Our translation of Verdaguer’s Catalan classic poem
A extract of the epic in English Canigó (fragment) Jacint Verdaguer (1845-1902) [Translated from Catalan by Brett Hetherington and Antoni Cardona]Of Romanesque altars there were no trace.Of the Byzantine cloister nothing remains:alabaster sculptures fell downand the candle is fading like a celestial bodythat in Canigó will never be lit again.Like two giants of a holy…
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“The neighbours” – My latest poem, also translated into Catalan
The neighboursLike shortchanged construction workersThe neighbours shout down onto their kidsMost of the dayThe older boy(His name is Jonay, which rhymes with cry, and he does a lot)Well, he shouts back these days, heaving and aggrieved Then bellows at his brother Who is 3 or 4 years oldAnd he makes the noises of a dog…
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“The pine tree of Formentor:” more than a nature poem
Translation from Catalan of Miquel Costa i Llobera’s “El pi de Formentor” by Brett Hetherington and Antoni Cardona The pine tree of Formentor Miquel Costa i Llobera (1875)My heart loves a tree! Older than the olive tree,more powerful than the oak, greener than the orange tree,holding onto eternal spring in its leaves,and fighting against the…
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“Sunrise from the south” (a new poem with Catalan translation)
Behind the treesAway from the darkIn just one little cornerA patch of childhood blue skyBut each time I looked up from my tea and cakeIn only seconds travelling west fast It accosted meEven shamed meUntil the pale patch in mere minutesHad migrated into a couple of fluffed bars low Down on the horizon madeBy the…
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90 seconds exactly
(My translation from the Catalan original “Tot just noranta segons” with the author, Antoni Cardona) When Nadia was running downstairs from the 6th floor, doing up her dressing gown, cursing the wind and her mistake she came across the boy from door 4, floor 4 the one who never says good morning She put the…
Brett Hetherington 