Do Not Gentle Go Into That Good Nightby Dylan Thomas Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
| Μην αφήνεστε σ’ αυτή την όμορφη νύχτα Τα γηρατειά πρέπει να καίνε και να παραληρούν στο δειλινό. Οργιστείτε, οργιστείτε για το θάνατο της μέρας. Οι σοφοί μαθαίνουν τελικά πως το σκοτάδι έχει δίκιο, Γιατί οι λέξεις τους δεν έδωσαν ούτ’ έφεραν την αποκάλυψη, κι όμως Μην αφήνεστε σ’ αυτή την όμορφη νύχτα. Άνθρωποι καλοί, τελευταίος αποχαιρετισμός, φωνάζοντας πόσο φωτεινές Οι εύθραυστες πράξεις τους ίσως θα χόρευαν σ’ έναν κόσμο αγάπης, Οργιστείτε, οργιστείτε για το θάνατο της μέρας. Άνθρωποι άγριοι που άρπαξαν και τραγούδησαν τον ήλιο που πετούσε, Μαθαίνουν, αργά πια, πώς θρήνησαν σαν έφευγε, Μην αφήνεστε σ’ αυτή την όμορφη νύχτα. Άνθρωποι ανήσυχοι, κοντά στο θάνατο που βλέπουν θαμπωμένα Μάτια τυφλά φλογίζονται σαν μετεωρόλιθοι μα είναι εύθυμα, Οργιστείτε, οργιστείτε για το θάνατο της μέρας. Και συ, πατέρα μου, εκεί πάνω στο θλιμμένο ύψος, Καταράσου, ευλόγησε, εμένα τώρα με τα άγρια δάκρυα σου, προσεύχομαι. Μην αφήνεσαι σ’ αυτή την όμορφη νύχτα, Οργήσου, οργήσου για το θάνατο της μέρας.
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Μετάφραση: Βίλκη Τσελεμέγκου-Αντωνιάδου
Poems published in Translatum:
Tract by William Carlos Williams I will teach you my townspeople
how to perform a funeral–
for you have it over a troop
of artists–
unless one should scour the world–
you have the ground sense necessary.
See! the hearse leads.
I begin with a design for a hearse.
For Christ's sake not black–
nor white either–and not polished!
Let it be weathered–like a farm wagon–
with gilt wheels (this could be
applied fresh at small expense)
or no wheels at all:
a rough dray to drag over the ground.
Knock the glass out!
My God–glass, my townspeople!
For what purpose? Is it for the dead
to look out or for us to see
how well he is housed or to see
the flowers or the lack of them–
or what?
To keep the rain and snow from him?
He will have a heavier rain soon:
pebbles and dirt and what not.
Let there be no glass–
and no upholstery, phew!
and no little brass rollers
and small easy wheels on the bottom–
my townspeople what are you thinking of?
A rough plain hearse then
with gilt wheels and no top at all.
On this the coffin lies
by its own weight.
No wreaths please–
especially no hot house flowers.
Some common memento is better,
something he prized and is known by:
his old clothes–a few books perhaps–
God knows what! You realize
how we are about these things
my townspeople–
something will be found–anything
even flowers if he had come to that.
So much for the hearse.
For heaven's sake though see to the driver!
Take off the silk hat! In fact
that's no place at all for him–
up there unceremoniously
dragging our friend out to his own dignity!
Bring him down–bring him down!
Low and inconspicuous! I'd not have him ride
on the wagon at all–damn him–
the undertaker's understrapper!
Let him hold the reins
and walk at the side
and inconspicuously too!
Then briefly as to yourselves:
Walk behind–as they do in France,
seventh class, or if you ride
Hell take curtains! Go with some show
of inconvenience; sit openly–
to the weather as to grief.
Or do you think you can shut grief in?
What–from us? We who have perhaps
nothing to lose? Share with us
share with us–it will be money
in your pockets.
Go now
I think you are ready.