Lost In Translation Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

Lost In Translation

Rating: 5.0


'A world without borders'
Is the dream of everyone
Who attempt to recreate
A book in another language.

Whatever is Lost In Translation
Is gained in many multiples
As the work is now read and re-read
By many who would never have.

Spanish, French, Arabic, all Greek to me,
But Neruda, Rumi, Eco and Lorca,
Marquez, Dostoyevsky and Llosa
Camus, all writers my favourite.

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,
Jean Val Jean, Anna Karenina,
Aureliano and Grigory Melekhov
And Aksinia, all my acquaintances.

Macondo is my neighbourhood;
When Anna flees to Italy with her lover
Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky
It is I who drive their train to safety;

Don flows right through my heart
Ulysses the hero of my young life.
A Stranger everywhere I tread, with Him
My life was an eternal Sufi Dance.

Lost in translation a zillion
But retained a capsule
Of which I relish, thankful
To the un-named translators.

In fact, I am, myself
Lost In Translation!

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
Notes (1) Today, the 30 September is celebrated as World Translation Day (2) " A world without borders" is the tagline for this years' World Translation Day. (3) " writers my favourite" , only through translation (4) " Lost In Translation" is a phrase used to ‘belittle' the yeomen service of the translators
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Pallab Chaudhury 02 October 2022

A beautiful poem connecting the world! Thank you for the poem being shared. PC

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Thank You, Pallabji for devoting your precious time to read the poem and share your thoughts on it. Obliged Sir

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Anjandev Roy 02 October 2022

Superb piece.....one of Ur best.....thank u....

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I am so very happy to read your comments, Anjandev. Thank You.

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Nosheen Irfan 02 October 2022

A wonderful celebration of literature from around the world. Great classics that have transformed lives of the readers. Eternally grateful to these writers. Such a great idea to pay tribute to them. Kudos!

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Thank You, Nosheen for ardently following my poems and gracing them with your precious thoughts and appreciation. Ever so grateful, Nosheen.

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A work that deserves great appreciation for its introductory nature touching an array of poets and writers

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Among my pages are translation of many a poems of my fellow-poets here, apart from about 80 poems of Sara Teasdale. That is my way returning the favour of innumerable un-named translators, of whose work I have benefited.

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Thank You, reverred poet, for the words of appreciation on the poem. As you would have noticed I am an avid translator myself. In my

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It is to acknowledge my gratitude to the translators that I try to translate and post poems on PoemHunter. Thank You.

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Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

PUTHENCHIRA, KERALA, INDIA
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