I keep on posting my translations into Catalan of poems by this extraordinary American author, who spent most of her intense, even agitated life, secluded at home.

Previous posts with a brief biographical introduction, a handful of her poems and my own translations can be found here:

Dues versions en Català d’Emily Dickinson, poetessa de clausura

and here:

Més versions d’Emily Dickinson en Català – Emily Dickinson in Catalan (II)

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288 [1861]

I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – nobody – too?
Then there’s a pair of us! Don’t tell!
They ’d banish us – you know!

How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell your name – the livelong Day –
To an admiring Bog!

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No sóc Ningú! Qui ets tu?
Tampoc no ets – Ningú?
Llavors ja som dos! No ho diguis pas!
Que ens proscriurien – ja ho saps!

Que avorrit – és ésser – Algú!
Que públic – com una Grauxa –
Dir el teu nom – tot el sant Dia –
A aquell Fangar que t’admira!

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739 [1863]

I many times thought Peace had come
When Peace was far away –
As Wrecked Men – deem they sight the land –
At Centre of the Sea –

And struggle slacker – but to prove
As hopelessly as I –
How many the fictitious Shores –
Before the Harbor lie.

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Molts cops vaig pensar que la Pau era arribada –
Quan la Pau era ben lluny –
Tal com els Nàufrags – creuen que albiren Terra –
En el Bell Mig de la Mar.

I desafien la mandra – sols per a comprovar
Tant desesperançats com jo –
Quantes Costes fictícies –
Rauen per davant del Port.

[Traduccions de Linus Fontrodona, 2015 i 2016]

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[The title-numbers and dates follow T. H. Johnson’s edition: “The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson” (London, Faber & Faber, 1970)]

[The header image features my own artwork: LiF’s Poppies field]

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