It’s that time of the year again when I pick one lovely poem from Eminescu (well known Romanian poet) and this year, I’ve chosen a ballad of love and yearning where the man is desperately waiting for his lover to come to him. Some finer points lost in translation are the use of the possessive “mi” in “nu-mi vii?” meaning that the longing is so hard that even the question asked is about himself. Why don’t you come to me?
As per many of his poems, a strong connection with nature can be seen in the use of animals which are also leaving (the swallows), in the trees that are shedding their beloved leaves and all the fields have been emptied out.
When nature goes to the desolation of autumn and winter, the feelings of loss are that much stronger.
| Vezi, rândunelele se duc, Se scutur frunzele de nuc, S-aşează bruma peste vii – De ce nu-mi vii, de ce nu-mi vii?
O, vino iar în al meu braţ, Ţi-aduci aminte cum pe-atunci În lumea asta sunt femei Căci tu înseninezi mereu Târzie toamnă e acum, |
See the swallows quit the eaves And fall the yellow walnut leaves, The vines with autumn frost are numb, Why don’t you come, why don’t you come?
Oh, come into my arms’ embrace Do you remember when we strayed Some women on the earth there are For you shine in my soul always But it is late in autumn now, |
See other love poems here: https://theferkel.co.uk/2016/01/15/iubind-in-taina-eminescu/
