Sure on this shining night?

Discussion:

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Laszlo Lebrun

2014-03-23 16:58:58 UTC

Hi,
we will be singing a song on a poem fromJames Agee and I have been
asked to translate the lyrics:

Sure on this shining night
Of starmade shadows round,
Kindness must watch for me
This side the ground.
The late year lies down the north
All is healed, all is health.
High summer holds the earth.
Hearts all whole
Sure on this shining night
I weep for wonder wand'ring far alone
Of shadows on the stars.

I'd like to understand the meaning.
Could someone put this into "trivial" expressions?

I did understand the the author had a hard time and found some pace in a
night walk,
but it's really hard to translate it keeping the atmosphere...

--
One computer and three operating systems, not the other way round.
One wife and many hotels, not the other way round ! ;-)

Whiskers

2014-03-23 20:09:56 UTC

Permalink

Post by Laszlo Lebrun
Hi,
we will be singing a song on a poem fromJames Agee and I have been
Sure on this shining night
Of starmade shadows round,
Kindness must watch for me
This side the ground.
The late year lies down the north
All is healed, all is health.
High summer holds the earth.
Hearts all whole
Sure on this shining night
I weep for wonder wand'ring far alone
Of shadows on the stars.
I'd like to understand the meaning.
Could someone put this into "trivial" expressions?
I did understand the the author had a hard time and found some pace in a
night walk,
but it's really hard to translate it keeping the atmosphere...

He's having thoughts about his own mortality ("This side the ground" -
while I am alive, before I die and am buried under the ground).

And about the cycles of nature ("The late year" meaning winter, when in
northern parts of his native USA nature seems to sleep or die - "lies
down the north" - which he seems to associate with sadness; in contrast,
the heat of summer all is well and he feels more cheerful - "Hearts all
whole".)

Reference to the stars at the beginning and end of the poem reflects the
cycles of nature and the completeness and continuity of things; at the
start, the bright stars are casting shadows around him, but at the end,
he feels there are shadows on the stars.

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~

Laszlo Lebrun

2014-04-05 16:31:12 UTC

Permalink

Post by Whiskers

He's having thoughts about his own mortality ("This side the ground" -
while I am alive, before I die and am buried under the ground).
And about the cycles of nature ("The late year" meaning winter, when in
northern parts of his native USA nature seems to sleep or die - "lies
down the north" - which he seems to associate with sadness; in contrast,
the heat of summer all is well and he feels more cheerful - "Hearts all
whole".)
Reference to the stars at the beginning and end of the poem reflects the
cycles of nature and the completeness and continuity of things; at the
start, the bright stars are casting shadows around him, but at the end,
he feels there are shadows on the stars.

Thank you for your help.
I have translated in such a way that he was suffering during the winter
(as everybody else) and as summer came back people around him were fine
and he continuing with his pain expected relief from that bright night...

--
One computer and three operating systems, not the other way round.
One wife and many hotels, not the other way round ! ;-)

Whiskers

2014-04-06 15:37:16 UTC

Permalink

Post by Laszlo Lebrun

Post by Whiskers

He's having thoughts about his own mortality ("This side the ground" -
while I am alive, before I die and am buried under the ground).
And about the cycles of nature ("The late year" meaning winter, when in
northern parts of his native USA nature seems to sleep or die - "lies
down the north" - which he seems to associate with sadness; in contrast,
the heat of summer all is well and he feels more cheerful - "Hearts all
whole".)
Reference to the stars at the beginning and end of the poem reflects the
cycles of nature and the completeness and continuity of things; at the
start, the bright stars are casting shadows around him, but at the end,
he feels there are shadows on the stars.

I hope your performance is successful :))

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~

Laszlo Lebrun

2014-04-07 20:13:54 UTC

Permalink

Post by Whiskers

Post by Laszlo Lebrun

Post by Whiskers

He's having thoughts about his own mortality ("This side the ground" -
while I am alive, before I die and am buried under the ground).
And about the cycles of nature ("The late year" meaning winter, when in
northern parts of his native USA nature seems to sleep or die - "lies
down the north" - which he seems to associate with sadness; in contrast,
the heat of summer all is well and he feels more cheerful - "Hearts all
whole".)
Reference to the stars at the beginning and end of the poem reflects the
cycles of nature and the completeness and continuity of things; at the
start, the bright stars are casting shadows around him, but at the end,
he feels there are shadows on the stars.

I hope your performance is successful :))

It is always successful.
More or less...
;-)

--
One computer and three operating systems, not the other way round.
One wife and many hotels, not the other way round ! ;-)