Monthly Archives: November 2007

George Toparceanu–Parody after Homer

Posted on November 28, 2007 by

I’ve worked for quite a while on this one and it’s just as imperfect as when I started it, it seems. No matter: I had to put it up here or I would have never gotten out of my blogging … Continue reading →

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Mircea Cartarescu–Levantul (2)

Posted on November 18, 2007 by

Ok, second installment from my Levantul saga (first one here). Some of it is so, so funny, and I’m not sure the irony comes through. Especially the switch from a very serious, sorrowful registry to a lewd, soft, romantic one … Continue reading →

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Alexandru Andries–Like the sand all women are

Posted on November 17, 2007 by

Another one of my favorites–Andries’s Like the sand all women are. My linguistic treasons–oh, boy. Let’s see: – "Si viata e un hotel"="And life is a hotel"–translated through "and life is so surreal." I needed a rhyme for "steel"–which I … Continue reading →

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Alexandru Paleologu–Why do I write? What do I believe in?

Posted on November 16, 2007 by

I just found this book by Alexandru Paleologu, Despre lucrurile cu adevarat importante (On the really important things) and the preface is the author’s answer to a questionnaire which asks–well, you see for yourself. I did a quick and dirty … Continue reading →

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Ion Minulescu–With autumn in my room

Posted on November 13, 2007 by

Minulescu (who, to my surprise, has a surprisingly well developed entry in the English Wikipedia) sometimes seems a little dated, but he’s always hopelessly, incurably romantic, and extremely likable. A few notes on the translation: – Romanian seasons are always … Continue reading →

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Ion Barbu–Uvedenrode

Posted on November 11, 2007 by

Q: How do you translate a modernist, quasi-dadaist poem whose primary reason of being is musical rather than "meaningful"?A: You don’t. Oh, I forgot. Just because it can’t be translated doesn’t mean yours truly won’t try! Ion Barbu (pen name … Continue reading →

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Unknown–Ode to Tanase

Posted on November 10, 2007 by

When I was young (really young), and the Communists still ruled Romania, one of the simple pop culture joys that was not denied to us was almanacs. Charmingly antiquated, right? Well, traditional media was  all propaganda, and the computer culture … Continue reading →

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Me, in translation, again

Posted on November 9, 2007 by

I’m a very messy record-keeper. I know I have it in me to be super-organized (no, seriously!), but for some reason I’ve been putting it off and as a result the innards of my computer are a mess. There are … Continue reading →

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Nichita Stanescu–Ensitteren

Posted on November 6, 2007 by

A strange, troubling, haunting poem by Nichita. As far as I can see, I could find absolutely no meaning for "ensitteren." Yes, it does "sound" Nordic and all, but I’ve looked up in a bunch of dictionaries for Nordic languages … Continue reading →

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Alexandru Andries–That’s What You Do

Posted on November 5, 2007 by

A fun, sweet, heart-melting song from Andries. ASTA FACI TU de Alexandru Andries Pîn’ la tine ma simteam Ca un abtibild pe geam, Stiu cum e fara, Stiu acum cum e cu… Te-am dorit – nu mi-e rusine – Si … Continue reading →

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