European Literature in Translation - a world of possibilities
1. Hotel sem ti povedati to
prigodo tako, kot vedno
pripovedujemo, kot bi mi bili
glavni junaki in imeli nadzor
nad vsem. Pa sem prestar za te
traparije, ti bom povedal, kot je
v resnici bilo.
From Nemška loterija,
Beletrina Academic Press (2012).
I wanted to tell you
this the way we always
tell stories, as if we were the
main characters and had
everything under control. But
I’m too old to fool around,
so I’ll tell it like it was.
From The German Lottery, CB Editions (2012);
Translated by Urška Zupanec.
Miha Mazzini (Slovenia)
Europeanliterature:
aworldofpossibilities
3. From Životopis černobílého jehněte; Torst, 2009.
[T]here is apparently a
family in some village
whose father comes from
Africa… they live there
normally, sing Moravian
songs, wear those beautiful
embroidered national
costumes and speak
Moravian. Can you imagine
that, Boženka?
From Biography of a Black and White Lamb,
Wasafiri, the Magazine of International
Contemporary Writing issue 56 (winter 2008);
Translated by Suzana Dudic.
Tomáš Zmeškal (Czech Republic)
Slyšel jsem, že existuje rodina v
nějaké vesnici na Moravě a otec
těch dětí, je odněkud z Afriky.
A oni tam docela normálně žijí,
zpívají Moravské písně, nosí ty
překrásné kroje. Dovedeš si to
představit, Boženko?
Europeanliterature:
aworldofpossibilities
4. Tomáš Zmeškal - www.tomaszmeskal.cz
Supported by the European
Commission in the United Kingdom
Produced by Speaking Volumes
Live Literature Productions
For information on European writers and upcoming
projects visit www.speaking-volumes.org.uk
The European Commission and Culture
www.europe.org.uk/culture
@Speak_Volumes
5. Chacun de
nous porte sur
ses épaules la
totalité de son
époque.
From Mont Plaisant;
editions Philippe Rey, 2011.
Each of us
carries the
totality of our
time on our
shoulders.
Mount Pleasant is not yet published
in English.
Patrice Nganang (France/Cameroon)
Europeanliterature:
aworldofpossibilities
7. “Türk demeyelim
de” dedi Deniz,
gülümseyerek,
“Türkiye’den”
diyelim.
From Muz Sesleri, published by
Everest Yayınları (2010).
“Let’s not say I’m
Turkish,” Deniz
said, smiling.
“Let’s simply say
I’m from Turkey.”
The Sound of Bananas is not yet
published in English.
Translated by Deniz Perin.
Ece Temelhuran (Turkey)
Europeanliterature:
aworldofpossibilities
9. Ubax Cristina Ali Farah (Italy/Somalia)
Aspetta.
Questo è l’estremo saluto.
Ancora l’angoscia non ha invaso i loro volti. Ne percepisco il sentore.
Ora mi accorgo di avere le labbra salate.
Ma il cielo è terso, limpido, ceruleo.
From Ai confini del verso, Poesia Della migrazione in Italiano; a cura di Mia Lecomte, 2006
Wait.
This is the final farewell.
Anguish has not yet invaded their faces. I can sense it coming.
Now I realise that my lips are salty.
But the sky is crystal clear, limpid, deep blue.
From ‘Rosso’, Wasafiri, the Magazine of International Contemporary Writing issue 56
(winter 2008). Translated by Gil Fagiani.
Europeanliterature:
aworldofpossibilities
11. Agnès Agboton (Spain/Benin)
En una apacible cobijo
de hermosas paredes
todo ha sido cambiado;
dos hombres importantes se han sonreído,
se han dado la mano.
From ‘7’, Canciones del poblado y del exilio; Barcelona: Viena Eds., 2006
Inside a calm refuge
of beautiful walls
all has changed;
two important men have smiled to each other,
they have shaken hands.
From ‘7’, Wasafiri, the Magazine of International Contemporary Writing issue 56
(winter 2008). Translated by Maya García de Vinuesa.
Europeanliterature:
aworldofpossibilities
