Osip Mandelstam. Vertaling uit Engels in Afrikaans. Vert. deur Helize van Vuuren
66
Ín in die vesting, ín in die leeukuil val ek,
om dieper en dieper en dieper te sink,
bewend onder die klank van die stortvloed –
sterker as ‘n leeu – magtiger as die Pentateug.
Nader en nader kom jou oproep –
na die stam se gebooie; na dié wat voorgegaan het –
in die diepte van see-pêrels,
in die nederige mandjies van Tahitiane…
Kontinent van géselende lied,
in die dieptes van jou ryk stem kom nader!
Die soet-wrede gesig van ryk dogters
nie jou oumagrootjie se pinkie werd.
My tyd is nog nie verby,
ek begelei die universele vreugde,
soos ‘n orrel in ondertone,
‘n singende vrou bly volg.
February 12, 1937.
Osip Mandelstam(1891-1938) –Tweede notaboek uit Vorónezh Notebooks (1936-1937), 2016-vertaling Andrew Davies [ÓAfrikaanse vertaling Helize van Vuuren, 10 Mei 2021]
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66
Into the fastness, into the lion’s pit I pitched,
Sinking deeper and deeper and deeper,
Trembling beneath the sound of the downpour –
Stronger than a lion – than the Pentateuch more powerful.
As nearer and nearer came your call –
To the tribe’s commandments, to those who came before –
In the deep of ocean pearls,
In the meek baskets of Tahitians…
Continent of castigating song,
In the depths of that rich voice come nearer!
The sweet-savage face of wealthy daughters
Not worth your great-grandma’s little finger.
My time is still not ending,
And I accompany the universal joy,
As an organ, in an undertone,
Follows a woman singing.
February 12, 1937.
Osip Mandelstam(1891-1938) –Tweede notaboek uit Vorónezh Notebooks (1936-1937), 2016-vertaling Andrew Davies
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Nota:
Die laaste drie reëls som sy lewe en werk op (Nadezhda Mandelstam in Hope against Hope, 1970:242). Die digter het geluister na Marian Sanderson, ‘n swart Amerikaanse contralto wat “spirituals” gesing het, dikwels oor Ou Testamentiese temas, en Bach, begelei deur die orrel (R & E McKane – The Moscow & Voronezh Notebooks. Osip Mandelstam. Poems 1930-1937, 2003:204). Tweede arrestasie in Mei 1938. Sterf op 27 Desember in Vladivlostok-kamp, op pad na vyf jaar harde arbeid in Siberië.