Des Espoirs Eleves. (Translation) . Poem by Michael Walker
Des Espoirs Eleves. (Translation) .
Je grimpai la montagne
le soleil aux yeux
descendis la montagne
purge temporairement de mensonges
descendis de la montagne
sous des cieux parfaits
descendis de la montagne
des larmes aux yeux
-'High Hopes'.Brian Turner b.1946.
High Hopes.
Climbed the mountain
with the sun in my eyes
descended the mountain
temporarily purged of lies
came down from the mountain
under perfect skies
came down from the mountain
with tears in my eyes
- Brian Turner. From 'To the Mountains. A collection of New Zealand alpine writing', p.172.
Unlike James K. Baxter, Turner writes about this and other outdoors experiences with realism, rather than exaggerated romanticism. Quite a short poem in couplets, I like 'High Hopes' a lot. The ending is impressive in the emotion expressed, 'came down from the mountain/
with tears in my eyes'.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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8/29/2026 10:15:38 PM # rel_20260827T145718Z_a0f1bd3
The lure of mountains comes alive so beautifully in this poem. Thanks for sharing it with its translation.
Of course, it reminds me of Himalayas as well as of the Will of India's first PM Jawahar Lal Nehru who gratefully recalled the role of Himalayas in shaping his personality.
And thanks to you for taking the trouble to read and think about the poem. You could relate this to the Himalayas in India.