Greek poetry

[Fidelitas]

Well, I feel like congratulating all of you, here, because you make such an important effort to comprehend, study, analyze poems, lyrics, whatever, of a foreign culture & language.
I really admire your efforts you all!

@Fidelitas - to me, it doesn't matter what one gets when reading/listening to a poem. What matters to me, is that the poetry - just like the music - can touch people's feelings, even if they don't understand fully. This is magic.
----
Well, I'd like to post here a couple of verses, written by the unforgettable, yet not so popular, greek poet Κατερίνα Γώγου, because I was shocked when I read them.

Ξέρω πως ποτέ δε σημαδεύουνε στα πόδια.
Στο μυαλό είναι ο Στόχος, το νου σου ε;


I know that they never point at feet.
Brain - this is their Target, bear it in mind, will you?

I was shocked 2 when I read them the first time! But those verses are so true

[boubou]

I was shocked 2 when I read them the first time! But those verses are so true

I will post another poem of hers...
The translation is mine, because I couldn't find an official one

Θα 'ρθει καιρός
The time will come
που θ' αλλάξουν τα πράγματα
when things will change
να το θυμάσαι Μαρία
bear that in mind, Maria,
θυμάσαι Μαρία στα διαλείμματα
remember, Maria, during the breaks
εκείνο το παιχνίδι που τρέχαμε
that game, that we used to run,
κρατώντας τη σκυτάλη
holding the torch?
Μη βλέπεις εμένα μην κλαις
Don't look at me, don't cry,
εσύ είσαι η ελπίδα
you are the hope
Άκου, θα 'ρθει καιρός
Listen, the time will come,
που τα παιδιά θα διαλέγουν γονιούς
when the children will be able to choose parents,
δε θα βγαίνουν στην τύχη
they won't be out at random,
δεν θα υπάρχουν πόρτες κλειστές
there will be no shut doors,
με γερμένους απ' έξω
having reclined ones outside them
και τη δουλειά θα τη διαλέγουμε
and we will be able to choose the work
δε θα 'μαστε άλογα
we won't be horses
να μας κοιτάνε στα δόντια
so as to be checked up on the teeth.
Οι άνθρωποι, σκέψου,
People, think of it,
θα μιλάνε με χρώματα
will be speaking with colours
κι άλλοι με νότες
and others with notes,
να φυλάξεις μοναχά
only keep
σε μια μεγάλη φιάλη με νερό
in a big bottle with water
λέξεις κι έννοιες σαν κι αυτές :
words and thoughts like these :
απροσάρμοστοι, καταπίεση,
unadapted, oppression,
μοναξιά, τιμή, κέρδος, εξευτελισμός
solitude, honour, profit, humiliation
για το μάθημα της Ιστορίας
for the lesson of History.
Είναι Μαρία, δε θέλω να λέω ψέματα,
Truth is, Maria, I don't want to lie,
δύσκολοι καιροί και θα' ρθουνε κι άλλοι
the times are difficult and even more ones will come
δε ξέρω, μην περιμένεις κι από μένα πολλά
I don't know, don't expect from me, as well, too much
τόσα έζησα, τόσα έμαθα, τόσα λέω
so much I lived, so much I learnt, so much I speak out
κι απ' όσα διάβασα ένα κράτησα καλά
and from all these I've read, one thing I held out
Σημασία έχει να παραμένεις άνθρωπος
What matters is to remain human with values
Θα την αλλάξουμε τη ζωή
We will change the life
...παρ' όλα αυτά Μαρία
in spite of all these, Maria.

[catherini]

Thats a powerful poem Boubou, really thought provoking, and your translation just flows. Its brilliant

[Fidelitas]

@boubou

Her work is strong, very strong. I like it. Great poem. I posted 2 poems, finally I found some , but I don't know what they mean

[boubou]

Thats a powerful poem Boubou, really thought provoking, and your translation just flows. Its brilliant

Hi catherini,
thank you for your kind words; your opinion really matters to me, as translating a poem, should be approached far more seriously and respectfully, rather than a song, that talks about love and divorce.
If I could render the poet's style, then i'm happy.
There are some poems, that really thrill you by the unbearable verities they carry within their verses!

[boubou]

@boubou

Her work is strong, very strong. I like it. Great poem. I posted 2 poems, finally I found some , but I don't know what they mean

Hi Fidelitas,
these poems are quite difficult to translate due to the fact that they are built up with language idioms, with rare words and poetic ones, that is, words that are not often used.
I will google up (instead of look up ) to see if I come up with a translation in english!

[Fidelitas]

Hi Fidelitas,
these poems are quite difficult to translate due to the fact that they are built up with language idioms, with rare words and poetic ones, that is, words that are not often used.
I will google up (instead of look up ) to see if I come up with a translation in english!

Ok thanks for trying to help me

[Fidelitas]

I browsed the internet and I found this poem. I understand a bit but not everything so I can use a translation

Σ' αγαπώ!
Είναι τόσο απλό,
είναι απλά δυο λέξεις
είναι κάτι που θέλω να σου πω,
μα δεν ξέρω αν θ' αντέξεις.
Ούτε ένα βιβλίο σκέψεων
δεν ξέρω αν θα φθάσει
για να εκφράσει τόσα πολλά
όσο αυτή η φράση.
Είναι απλό, τόσο απλό
μα τόσα αισθήματα από πίσω
τίποτε άλλο δεν μπορώ να σκεφτώ,
για να μπορέσω να σε πείσω.
Ότι αυτά που αισθάνομαι
μου έχουν γεμίσει την καρδιά
Ότι μαζί σου χάνομαι
Σε κάθε σου ματιά.
Μα τώρα έφτασε η στιγμή,
η στιγμή για να στο πω.
Καρδούλα μου, αστέρι μου, φατσούλα
Σ ' ΑΓΑΠΩ.

[Fidelitas]

I will post another poem of hers...
The translation is mine, because I couldn't find an official one

Does she have other poems?

[boubou]

Hi Fidelitas, I don't know whether you wanted a translation, but I provided you with such one!

Σ' αγαπώ!
I love you!
Είναι τόσο απλό,
It's that simple,
είναι απλά δυο λέξεις
simply two words,
είναι κάτι που θέλω να σου πω,
it's something I want to tell you,
μα δεν ξέρω αν θ' αντέξεις.
but I don't know if you can take it.
Ούτε ένα βιβλίο σκέψεων
Not even a book of thoughts,
δεν ξέρω αν θα φθάσει
I'm now sure if it's enough,
για να εκφράσει τόσα πολλά
to express so many
όσο αυτή η φράση.
as this very phrase.
Είναι απλό, τόσο απλό
It's simple, so simple
μα τόσα αισθήματα από πίσω
but so many feelings from behind
τίποτε άλλο δεν μπορώ να σκεφτώ,
nothing more, can I think of anymore,
για να μπορέσω να σε πείσω.
to be able to persuade you.
Ότι αυτά που αισθάνομαι
That all of what I feel
μου έχουν γεμίσει την καρδιά
has filled my heart up
Ότι μαζί σου χάνομαι
That with you, I go down
Σε κάθε σου ματιά.
in every look of yours
Μα τώρα έφτασε η στιγμή,
But now the moment has come,
η στιγμή για να στο πω.
the moment for me to tell you.
Καρδούλα μου, αστέρι μου, φατσούλα
My little heart, my star, my sweety little face
Σ ' ΑΓΑΠΩ
I LOVE YOU

[boubou]

Does she have other poems?

Yes she does. All of her poems are sort of dynamites. Unfortunately I don't know whether they are translated somewhere, so I will try to do it myself, if you like to read some more.
Here is the poem, from which I quoted two verses... You will remember.



Καμμιά φορά ανοίγει η πόρτα σιγά σιγά και μπαίνεις.
At times, the door opens little by little and you walk in.
Φοράς κάτασπρο κουστούμι και λινά παπούτσια.
You wear all white suit and linen shoes.
Σκύβεις βάζεις στοργικά στη χούφτα μου 72 φράγκα και φεύγεις.
You bend, put affectionately in my handful 72 francs and you go.
Έχω μείνει στη θέση που με άφησες για να με ξαναβρείς.
I've remained at the same place you left me, so that you find me again.
Όμως πρέπει να έχει περάσει πολύς καιρός γιατί τα νύχια μου μακρύνανε και
But much time has probably passed, because my nails have lengthened and
οι φίλοι μου με φοβούνται. Κάθε μέρα μαγειρεύω πατάτες
my friends fear me. Every day I cook potatoes,
έχω χάσει την φαντασία μου και κάθε
I've lost my imagination and every
φορά που ακούω "Κατερίνα" τρομάζω. Νομίζω ότι πρέπει να καταδώσω κάποιον.
time I hear "Katerina" I frighten. I think I have to
inform against someone.
Έχω φυλάξει κάτι αποκόμματα με κάποιον που λέγανε
I've kept some scraps, with someone, for whom they said
πως είσαι εσύ. Ξέρω πως λένε ψέματα οι εφημερίδες,
that it was you. I know that they lie, the newspapers,
γιατί γράψανε ότι σου ρίξανε στα πόδια.
because they wrote that they shot you at feet.
Ξέρω πως ποτέ δε σημαδεύουνε στα πόδια.
I know that they never point at feet.
Στο μυαλό είναι ο Στόχος
Brain, this is their Target,
το νου σου ε;
bear it in mind, will you?

[boubou]

Dear Fidelitas, here's another of Katerina Gogou.
I feel exhausted after my effort to translate it, because the meaning of each single verse, is so intense, that I feel heaviness on my soul, already.
Eksarhia, Patisia, Metaxuryio, Mets and Zinonos, are places (suburbs and street the last one) of Athens, where the degradation rules, where immigrants, prostitutes, common criminals live their lives, among poor people, people that work from dusk to dawn and vice versa, that all of them struggle to survive. The whole scenery is just frustrating.
I hope I rendered satisfyingly the poem's aspect of view...


Εμένα οι φίλοι μου είναι μαύρα πουλιά
My friends, are black birds


Εμένα οι φίλοι μου είναι μαύρα πουλιά
My friends, are black birds
πού κάνουν τραμπάλα στίς ταράτσες ετοιμόρροπων σπιτιών
that play at seesaw on the terraces of ramshackle houses,
Εξάρχεια Πατήσια Μεταξουργείο Μέτς.
Eksarhia, Patisia, Metaxuryio, Mets.
Κάνουν ό τι λάχει.
They act at random.
Πλασιέ τσελεμεντέδων καί εγκυκλοπαιδειών
Cooking books' representatives and encyclopaedias' ones,
φτιάχνουν δρόμους καί ενώνουν ερήμους
they make ways and join deserts,
διερμηνείς σέ καμπαρέ τής Ζήνωνος
interpreters at cabarets of Zinonos,
επαγγελματίες επαναστάτες
professional revolutionists,
παλιά τούς στρίμωξαν καί τά κατέβασαν
in the former, they got them by the short hairs and they quit,
τώρα παίρνουν χάπια καί οινόπνευμα νά κοιμηθούν
now, they take pills and alcohol, to get some sleep,
αλλά βλέπουν όνειρα καί δέν κοιμούνται.
but they dream and they don't sleep.
'Εμένα οι φίλες μου είναι σύρματα τεντωμένα
My friends, girls, they are wires stretched
στίς ταράτσες παλιών σπιτιών
on the terraces of old-time houses,
Εξάρχεια Βικτώρια Κουκάκι Γκύζη.
Eksarhia, Viktoria, Kukaki, Ghizi.
πάνω τους έχετε καρφώσει εκατομμύρια σιδερένια
Upon them, you have nailed millions of iron
μανταλάκια
clothes-pegs,
τίς ενοχές σας αποφάσεις συνεδρίων δανεικά φουστάνια
your guilts, congress' desicions, borrowed dresses,
σημάδια από καύτρες περίεργες ημικρανίες
signs of snuffs, weird migraines,
απειλητικές σιωπές κολπίτιδες
menacing silences, colpitis,
ερωτεύονται oμοφυλόφιλους
they fall in love with homosexuals,
τριχομονάδες καθυστέρηση
trichomonas, period delay,
τό τηλέφωνο τό τηλέφωνο τό τηλέφωνο
the phone, the phone, the phone,
σπασμένα γυαλιά τό ασθενοφόρο κανείς.
broken glasses, the ambulance, noone.
Κάνουν ό, τι λάχει.
They act at random.
Ολο ταξιδεύουν οι φίλοι μου
They constantly travel, my friends,
γιατί δέν τούς αφήσατε σπιθαμή γιά σπιθαμή.
because you didn't leave for them, not even one inch of space.
"Ολοι οι φίλοι μου ζωγραφίζουνε μέ μαύρο χρώμα
All of my friends, draw in black colour,
γιατί τούς ρημάξατε τό κόκκινο
because you devastated their red one,
γράφουνε σέ συνθηματική γλώσσα
they write in signal language,
γιατί ή δική σας μόνο γιά γλύψιμο κάνει.
because yours, is capable of only fawning on.
Οι φίλοι μου είναι μαύρα πουλιά καί σύρματα
My friends, are black birds and wires
στά χέρια σας. Στό λαιμό σας.
around your hands. Around your neck.
Οι φίλοι μου.
My friends.

[Fidelitas]

@ Boubou
I like her poems. She is a geat poet!!




I made a poem myself I found some inspiration I tried to translate it in Greek but I don't think it is a good translation
So will someone give me a good one??
I ll write mine translation 2 ( Keep in mind that I'm still learning )


I don’t want that tonight will turn into tomorrow
that this moment will ever fade away
I never want to loose it
Life brought us together to this point
I dreamed about it
but never expected that each step and every decision that I took so far would lead me here, to you

Δεν θέλω ότι απόψε θα γίνει αύριο
ότι αυτή η στιγμή θα σβήσει ποτέ
Ποτέ δεν ήθελα να είναι χαλαρά
Η ζωή μας έφερε μαζί σε αυτό το σημείο
Ονειρεύτηκα γι 'αυτό
αλλά ποτέ δεν αναμένεται ότι κάθε βήμα και κάθε απόφαση που έλαβε το μέτρο θα οδηγήσει μου εδώ, να σας


I try with all my strength to stop the hands of the clock
But I can’t stop them
and the sand seeps with no effort through my fingers
I can’t stop the time

Θα προσπαθήσω με όλη μου την δύναμη να σταματήσουν τα χέρια του ρολογιού
Αλλά δεν μπορώ να τους σταματήσει
και η άμμος δεν seeps με προσπάθεια μέσω δάχτυλά μου
Δεν μπορώ να σταματήσουμε το χρόνο


I print this moment in my head
How I feel and how you look
So beautiful
I don’t want to lose it
Know that I will never forget this moment

I εκτυπώσετε αυτή τη στιγμή στο κεφάλι μου
Πώς νιώθω και το πώς το βλέπει
Τόσο όμορφο
Δεν θέλω να χάσω αυτό
Ξέρεις ότι δεν πρόκειται ποτέ να ξεχάσω αυτή τη στιγμή

Life brought us together tonight

Η ζωή μας έφερε μαζί απόψε

[boubou]

@ Boubou
I like her poems. She is a geat poet!!

I think she rocks!!!!!!!!

Hey, Fidelitas, well done for you
It's nice trying to write things of your own. I occasionally act so myself too.
However difficult it is for you to translate into greek, your progress is obvious!

I made a poem myself I found some inspiration I tried to translate it in Greek but I don't think it is a good translation
So will someone give me a good one??
I ll write mine translation 2 ( Keep in mind that I'm still learning )

I don’t want that tonight will turn into tomorrow
Δε θέλω το σήμερα να γίνει αύριο,
that this moment will ever fade away
ούτε αυτή η στιγμή να ξεθωριάσει ποτέ,
I never want to loose it
Ποτέ δε θέλω να τη χάσω
Life brought us together to this point
Η ζωή μας έφερε μαζί, σ' αυτό το σημείο,
I dreamed about it
το ονειρευόμουν
but never expected that each step and every decision that I took so far would lead me here, to you
αλλά ποτέ δεν περίμενα ότι κάθε βήμα και κάθε απόφαση που πήρα μέχρι τώρα, θα με οδηγούσε εδώ, σε σένα


I try with all my strength to stop the hands of the clock
Προσπαθώ με όλη μου τη δύναμη, να σταματήσω τους δείκτες του ρολογιού
But I can’t stop them
Αλλά δεν μπορώ
and the sand seeps with no effort through my fingers
και η άμμος χάνεται χωρίς προσπάθεια ανάμεσα από τα δάχτυλά μου
I can’t stop the time
δεν μπορώ να σταματήσω το χρόνο


I print this moment in my head
Αποτυπώνω αυτή τη στιγμή μέσα στο μυαλό μου
How I feel and how you look
Πώς εγώ νιώθω και πώς εσύ μοιάζεις
So beautiful
τόσο όμορφα
I don’t want to lose it
Δε θέλω να τη χάσω
Know that I will never forget this moment
να ξέρεις ότι ποτέ δε θα ξεχάσω αυτή τη στιγμή

Life brought us together tonight

Η ζωή μας έφερε μαζί απόψε (<-- absolutely correct)

[Fidelitas]

Sometimes I try to write some poems off my own. However I think they sound so shalow

I like Katarina's poems too. She is a really good writer! So far she is my absolute favorite !

Thanks for the correct translation!!

[boubou]

Sometimes I try to write some poems off my own. However I think they sound so shalow

Well, I get that feeling sometimes when I write my stuff too.
I have thought that the poems themselves are not shalow, because you feel something that pushes you to write down verses.
Maybe what seems to be shalow, is the selection of words. But it's difficult to combine the proper words, and after all this is pure talent.

My advice, is not to let yourself get disappointed! Keep on writing, thoughts, full poems,
single verses, whatever comes to the edge of your pen, as a need to express your inner world, Fidelitas.
I follow that rule myself too.

I like Katarina's poems too. She is a really good writer! So far she is my absolute favorite !

Thanks for the correct translation!!

About Katerina Gogou, her poems are so strong and I'm so intensely affected, when reading them, that many feelings flood my soul.

As for the translation to your poems, it's been my pleasure!

[Fidelitas]

Well, I get that feeling sometimes when I write my stuff too.
I have thought that the poems themselves are not shalow, because you feel something that pushes you to write down verses.
Maybe what seems to be shalow, is the selection of words. But it's difficult to combine the proper words, and after all this is pure talent.

Exactly, the sentences sounds so cheap Its difficult to express your feelings on a piece of paper!!
I keep trying

[Fidelitas]

As for the translation to your poems, it's been my pleasure!

thanks my friend

[Fidelitas]

Here is another love poem. I tried to translate it a lil bit myself. I don't understand much but I tried
Can someone check my translation and translate the things I didn't know. And also write it in Greek characters please!
Thx!!


Kardia Mou
My heart
Ena kosmos gemato antres
?
Mono esena thelo
(it's) only you (that) I want
Mono esena latrevo
(it's) only you (that) I adore
Xoris esena then exo pia
?
Xoris esena mono monaksia (Loneliness?)
?

Krata me konta
?
Krata me sfihta
?
Krata me yia panta
?

Mono esena thelo
(it's) only you (that) I want
Konta me’mena
close to you ??

Filise me
Kiss me
Me to telio to stoma sou
?
Filise me
Kiss me
Gia na pethano apo hara
?

[dya]

Good job. The rest of the translation from me, Greek letters from someone else

Kardia Mou
My heart
Ena kosmos gemato antres
A world full of people
Mono esena thelo
(it's) only you (that) I want
Mono esena latrevo
(it's) only you (that) I adore
Xoris esena then exo pia
Without you I don't have anything
Xoris esena mono monaksia (Loneliness?)
Without you only lonliness

Krata me konta
Hold me close
Krata me sfihta
Hold me tight
Krata me yia panta
Hold me forever

Mono esena thelo
(it's) only you (that) I want
Konta me’mena
close to me

Filise me
Kiss me
Me to telio to stoma sou
With your perfect mouth
Filise me
Kiss me
Gia na pethano apo hara
So that I die from joy