Bringing the World Together: A Poetry Project for Spreading Love
Translating poetry — Tamil Version: For Jk Mansi
Original Hindi version by Juhi
आगे के अँधेरे में
इक किरण सी दिखी है
और देखूं या ना देखूं
यही सोचती सी
खड़ी हूँ गुमसुम सी
Tamil
சூழும் இருளில்
ஒரு ஒளி மின்மினிக்குது
அதை பார்க்கலாமா…விழி மூடலாமா
என்று சிந்தித்தே நிக்கின்றேன்
மொழி இல்லாமல், முடிவு எடுக்காமல்
Phonetically in English
soolum irulil
oru oli minminukkudhu
adhai paarkalaama…vizhi* moodalama
endru sindhithey nikkindraen
mozhi illamal, mudivu edukkamal
*The word “vizhi” here has a double meaning — one is “eyes” and the other is “to wake up”. The “zhi” sound is unique to Tamil and the closest approximation would be a guttural “el” in English.
English translation
in the darkness looming ahead,
a light twinkles
should I look at it… or close my eyes,
I stand there thinking
silently, undecided
In order to preserve the meaning of the original and keep the translation poetic, I’ve tweaked the English version a bit. Hope you don’t mind. Actually, the last line, if strictly translated would be “without language, without taking a decision”
Please visit the original post here for more translations.
