I thought of having this translation in my sig, but it’s a wee bit offensive. I’m not sure why, but this speaks to me somehow, some kind of hesitant fascination with a hint of disgust. Thus I have to show you. And testing my translation skills. These two poems were written by a man named Gustaf Fröding, a master of words. Sadly he was sent to an insane asylum. Because one of his most beautiful poems (about two lovers in Arcadia) got accused of being a story about masturbation - because it was called “Morning dream”. Fear the start of the last century. Anyway… these were written in the asylum.
Swedish version:
<table row=“1”>
<tr>
<td>Djävulskärlek
Bita ihjäl
var kropp och själ,
pina,
förtvina,
ej våga se
i ögon, som le
dem som le,
ve.
Vilja kyssa,
vilja vyssa
små barn i min famn
- vad jag vill?
Giva vänliga namn
bita till.</td>
<td>Änglakärlek
Dig, som biter,
dig, som sargar,
dig, som sliter
mig i trasor,
dig som slår
mig i sår,
dig, som gett av
tacksamhet
slag och bett av
tigrar, vargar,
dig, som slog, och dig, som bet,
mitt ibland fasor,
bett och slag
älskar jag.</td>
</tr></table>
Translation:
(I hate rhyming, but more than trying to translate it well I’m trying to make this available to the rest of you. And god, don’t talk to me about the meter, I couldn’t fix that up even if my life depended on it :P)
<table>
<tr>
<td>
Devil’s love
Bite to death
body and soul,
paining,
decaying,
dare not to see
in those eyes, that smile
those who smile,
vail.
Wish to kiss,
wish to hush
children in my arms
- what I want?
Give kinder names
and then bite.</td>
<td>Angel’s love
You, who’s biting,
you, who’s hurting,
you, who’s tearing,
me to pieces,
you who beats
me to tears,
you, who gave of
gratefulness
hits and bites of
tigers, wolves and
you, who beat, and you, who bit,
there among horrors,
bites and shove
you I love
</td>
</tr></table>
Is this the first time they’ve ever been translated?
