A Reading and translation of a poem

“The Birth of Song”

I am as certain of my song, 

When first it warms my brain, 

As woman of her unborn child,

Or wind that carries rain.

The child and rain are born at last,

Though now concealed from sight—

So let my song, unshaped and crude,

Come perfect to the light.

W. H. Davies

- Reading:

The poem is based on an extended metaphor (some form of conceit) involving the notion of (pro)creation: conceiving (brain / womb / wind) and begetting (delivering the poem / delivering the baby / bringing rain). Accordingly, the translation should bring out the elements of this conceit. "Song" simply means "poem". Some poems are set to music; they, then, become songs. The "child" and "rain" are "unshaped and crude" until they are born; likewise, the poem, "unshaped and crude," will "come perfect to the light". 

W. H. Davies is known for his being more inclined to simplicity than sophistication, and the gist of this poem attests to it. Child, Rain and Poem all partake of a natural process of growth, according to the poet.    

Any translation work must begin by unpacking the meaning before recasting it in a new idiom. In the case of poetry, the expressive function must be approximated as much as possible.

Mohamed Mansouri 

- Proposed Translations: 

1) "ميلاد أغنية"

عن أغنيتي آتيكم بالخبر  

حين بالدّفء لعقلي تنتصر

كأمّ تنتظر مولودها الآتي

كالرّيح تحمل المطر

ها قد أتى الوليد أخيرا والمطر

وإن كانا الآن بعيدين عن النّظر

ألا فلتتركوا أغنيتي، لا تقتلوها 

عساها تأتي جميلة كالقمر

وليام هنري ديفيز

(تعريب شكري عمري)

2) "ميلاد القصيدة"

بقصيدتي يضاهي استيقاني 

وهي نطفة في جَناني

استيقان الأمّ بوليدها المنتظر

أو الريح الحُبلى بالمطر

وأخيرا يهلّ الوليد ويأتي المطر

وإن كانا الآن خفيّين عن البصر

فدعوا قصيدتي تأتي على السّجيّة

فتتبدّى للعيان في طلعة بَهيّة. 

وليام هنري ديفيز

(تعريب محمّد منصوري)