The Sun's Romance (Romanta Soarelui)

I am Romanian by birth with the language skills of an 11 year old which was the age that I left the country for Down Under Oz.

During a recent visit, my brother gave me a poetry book in Romanian and said something like this: "You want to learn Romanian, use this to get you started".  So I flicked through the book and realised how limited my language skills were.  I always knew my limitations, I just really didn't need to have it so obviously presented.  As I was reading the poetry, I found myself completely incapable of translating.

I figured the best way to expand my Romanian is to attempt to translate the poems into English.  As you might imagine that is no easy feat.  The two languages are articulated in opposite ways, making literal translation impossible.  Another challenge is what sounds good and makes sense in telling a poetic story in Romanian, most certainly does not sound good nor poetic in English.

Either way, I was game and up for the challenge.  I selected a poem that seemed interesting enough from the 20% I could actually translate without a dictionary and started one line at a time.  Of course by the end of the first verse, it was all "gobbledegook" and by the second absolutely made no sense.  Through perseverance and sheer stubbornness on my part I started fudging it, cut lines out that I had no idea what the poet was trying to convey and ended with something that seemed reasonable.  Maybe not to your liking but not bad for a first try.

This was the outcome with my interference:

The Sun's Romance

by Mihail Sadoveanu

I soar,

I stretch,

I set

And disappear,

Yet my sunset's still arisen...

Forever solitary as daylight's vagabond

I am eternally unique and infinitely exposed.

With a giant magic wand, 

I give ...

Rivers reptilian life,

Seas their phosphorescent look,
Distant mountains, troops of gorillas,

And coastline trees, enviable positions.

I give...

Dried fig trees new fruit

Bronze statues humanness 

And on marble-lined pedestals commanding gestures,
That Kings' shall forever command.

But when I set

And the heat struggles in the cup of the rising cold

I shall throw new seeds into old patterns
And listen to Perpetuation hum amongst the chaos.

For a giggle, here's the literal translation of the first verse:

The Romance of the Sun
by Mihail Sadoveanu

East,
I'm tall,
Down
And then disappear,
And my sunset is still arise...
Are homeless day forever solitary -
Portrait unique and eternal, infinite exposed.

And for the Romanian's who are curious about it, here's the original version and if you want to shed light on it, feel free to comment.  Am widely open to it.

Romanta Soarelui
by Mihail Sadoveanu

Rasar,
Ma-nalt,
Cobor,
Si-apoi dispar,
Si-apusul meu e totusi rasarit...
Sunt vagabondul zilei de-a pururi solitar
Portret unic si vesnic, expus in infinit.

Cu magica-mi bagheta uriase -

Stapina hotaririlor eterne -

Destept maturatorii albelor orase

Si-adorm intirziatii negrelor taverne...

Dau fluviilor gratii de reptile,

Dau marilor priviri fosforescente,

Iar muntilor din zare, aspecte de gorile,

Si brazilor, pe coaste, pozitii indecente.

Dau fructe noi smochinilor uscati,

Dau bronzului figura omeneasca,

Iar Regilor -

Pe socluri de marmura-nsirati -
Poruncitoare gesturi, ca-n veci sa porunceasca.

Iar cind cobor,

Cind calda-nfiorare

Se zbate-n cupa recelui repaos,
Azvirl saminta noua in vechile tipare

Si-ascult Perpetuarea cum fredoneaza-n haos!...

I Miss You

This reads like a love lost but the ever-present romantic that my brother is, this poem just tells me that whoever he holds dear to his heart, he will not let go of and will keep on hoping that in the end love shall win above all else. For love and hope must be kept closest to our hearts, as they create the wonderful memories that we take with us to the end of our lives.

I Miss You
by Alex Hajas

I miss the way you hold my hands

I miss the way you hold me tight

I miss the way you look at me

But most the way you make me feel

I miss the way you kiss my lips

I miss the way you stroke my hair

I miss the things you do for me

But most I miss to see you sleep

I miss the way you hold my arm

I miss you walking by my side

I miss your presence in the night

But most of all when I wake up

I miss the vision of who you are

I miss the strolls we take at night

I miss the kiss that says goodnight

But most the one that wakes me up

Tribute to a newly Christened baby girl named Sophia

I have had the honour and privilege of participating in a most wonderful christening recently that has left its mark on my heart.  My brother, Alex, christened Sophia on the same date and month as he did Stephanie and Sebastian (Sophia's siblings) five years prior.  As part of the proceedings, I prepared little Sophia for her ceremonial immersion in water and afterwards had the pleasure of dressing her in her christening outfit.  She was cute as a button.

The celebrations at the Melbourne Acquarium was filled with fun, good food and even better company, along with the fish and crocodile.  Thank you Millan family.

SOPHIA

If you were an angel, 

you'd be wearing a halo upon your lovely head.

If you were a cherub, 

you'd be rosy-cheeked with wings.

If you were a fairy,

you'd be sprinkling fairy dust, weaving beautiful magic.

If you were a twinkling star,

you'd be shining bright in the night-sky.

If you were a princess,

you'd steal all our hearts and hold us in the palm of your hand.

But Sophia there are no If's.

You are not just one of these you are all of these.

You are mummy's angel and daddy's cherub.

You are my fairy and Nono's star.

You are Stephanie and Sebastian's special little sister

and everybody else's princess.

You are God's delightful creation,

filling your home with love and laughter.

Journey through life with everlasting wonder.

Cherish every minute with your family.

Hear your mum and dad's words of wisdom.

Forever adore your brother and sister.

Look after your Nono as he will look after you.

And I will in turn watch over you from afar.

Love, hugs and kisses.

Silvia

Nono Alex, Silvia & Sophia

My brother's birthday tribute to his niece

Happy Birthday Trinity

You run riot with our hearts
I think you know it and you hide
You test mummy and your dad
And when you lose you run to Anne

Neither I or Auntie Anne
Will say no to what you want
And I'll be making complex plans
To convince your mum and dad

You've barely turned the ripe old 3
And I'm recruited to fight for thee
For every no your mum will say
A look from you and I'm in stance

I didn't sign up for this you know
And I do see it in your eyes
The look that says oh Uncle Alex
You are just putty in my hands

I'll be hammered for years and years
I'll be in trouble with your mum
But what can I say dear Trini
One single kiss and I was thine

So being older in the know
I will tell you how it will go
When Auntie Annie is stopped by mum
To me you look and start to run

You hide behind me; don't say a word
And I will weather mummies storm
And when the rain has passed us by
You come out with a sunny smile

She'll forgive in her due time
We both know she will be fine
She'll blow a gasket two or three
But that's what mothers do with kids

So Triny dear I have a plan
Stick by me and we will get
All the things your heart desires
If not from mummy then from me

Happy Birthday it's your third
Let's run riot cause it's your day
And if they tell you to behave
Not today after all it is your birthday

Uncle Alex
Lets see what you get up to...

A birthday tribute to our daughter

Dear Trinity

You are the fairy tale story we dreamed of weaving

You are the masterpiece we knew we could paint

You are a princess in the making

With eyes that sparkle day and night

Your voice is a musical symphony

We love listening to all day

You are the shining star that brightenend our world

You are the final piece in the jigsaw of our lives

You are now 3 and that is just the beginning

Of the adventure that we are anticipating dreaming

Happy Birthday Our Gorgeous Girl

We love you BIG much!!!

Mummy & Daddy

A tribute to my brother for his birthday

Dear Alex

You are my brother

My friend

The one I toss ideas with

Debate subjects

Talk with for endless hours

And drink copious amounts of coffee

You are the person I love hanging out with

Seriously thrashed me at backgammon

Walked 17km just for the sake of it

Had a magical day with in Rome

And wiled away the hours with heartfelt banter about life

You are the comedian in our lives

Always having us laughing wholeheartedly

You love with all of your heart

Accept everyone just the way they are

And today we have the chance to remember and celebrate you

By wishing you a very Happy Birthday

We love you brother with all of our hearts.

John, Silvia and Trinity

Image courtesy of my 3 year old daughter.

A letter to daddy for Father's Day

DEAR DADDY

Why would I play with anyone else,

when you are the greatest playmate I could ever have.

How could I not love you the way I do,

when your kisses and cuddles are just the very best.

I know sometimes I have selective hearing,

but it’s impossible to ignore you for long.

You patiently guide me through my mistakes,

forgive my tantrums and dry my tears.

You save me when the dinosaurs chase me and

build Megablok towers for me to crash.

You run with me to school,

jump over ‘raging rivers of death’,

hang me upside down, and

splash with me in the diving pool.

You taught me how to ride my scooter, catch a ball, and
paddle in the swimming pool.

You showed me that jam tastes better

when it’s scooped out of the jar with my finger.

We have done so many things already,

I can hardly wait for more.

You are the best of the bestest daddies, and

I am one lucky little girl.

I want today to be a special day for you,

have lots of doughnuts, and

reminisce about all the fun we have together.

HAPPY DADDY DAY

I Love You BIG Much!!!

Trinity

Shine

This gorgeous instalment is a result of a story Alex told me. As I read the poem I could see the whole story unfold through these words.

SHINE

by Alex Hajas

I felt you when you first reached out

But I thought it was a distant star

I looked up and I searched for you

As your lure felt so good

The caress of your simple wish

With my longing for some peace

Made me cross the entire sky

To seek a thing that couldn’t exist

I travelled long, I travelled wide

Blindly looking left and right

Then I walked past and you hid away

Behind the beauty you masked with rain

I walked right past and did not see

You were the one who called for me

You called again and I was there

Still not knowing what it means

A few brief moments in your eyes

Made me see just who you are

I knew I found the star I searched

But the glimmer was so very low

A fading star that needed life

A spark to ignite and make it shine

The only thing to make it live

Was unconditioned loving peace

The lonely star was given hope

It found its way to its loving home

And once in place it shone so bright

That all around became alive

Now the stars shine day and night

Even though they are apart

They illuminate the lonely fields

Bringing hope with quiet ease

Leaf

Unleashing the poet inside this is my brother's latest instalment.  

His challenge was to write the poem in such a way that the reader could imagine the story being about a leaf or that it could be about love.

You be the judge of that and do tell me what you think.

LEAF 
by Alex Hajas

The summer wind has brought you forth

Among the thistle and the thorns

With a smile in a lonely field

Alone you shine for me to see

They weigh you down but you resist

Your sheer strength creates a mist

Where you hide in time of sorrow

To gain your strength for what's tomorrow

Everyday you seek the sun

To feel its warmth that gives you life

So keep on smiling and look up

And see the rays that fill your heart

Thank you...

Written by my brother, this poem was inspired by a beautiful woman he encountered on his trip to Romania. The young woman, a theatrical actress, was described to me as earthy, soulful and simply just wonderful to be around.

He was smitten with her genuiness and realness. He felt like a teenager on his first date. Whilst he had to continue his journey and therefore leave her behind, he was left eternally touched.

I in turn was so touched by the depth of my brother and his words, that with permission I now reproduce it for my readers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thank you
by Alex Hajas

As the wind blows gently forth

Every morning at the break of dawn

Bringing life to summer days

For me your presence is the same

I have seen you form a smile

Not that easy to forget

And your eyes that make men flutter

Speak of longing, though I see pain

You hide behind a wall of glass

That is darkened to their sight

Yet I see you clear as day

Your inner beauty is insane

You glide the pavement as the wind

Gleaming eyes follow your stream

I see them turn and sigh relief

They know an angel spread her wings

The weight of love may be your burden

That you carry night and day

A breath of life and inspiration

For all to feast on through their pain

You give hope to all the helpless

You bring love and that’s your gift

What a flower everlasting

I wish I held in my own hands

There’s no denying how I feel

Because your presence seems unreal

Your smile and your gleaming eyes

Bears a will to hold you tight

To say I thank you that we met

Is incomparable to an embrace

I’d rather a kiss that’s everlasting

Repeated daily till the end

Alex Hajas