mandag den 13. februar 2023

Poetry Monday :: Random Acts of Kindness ~ Second Edition

Mandagsdigt :: 2. udgave :: Tilfældige, venlige handlinger - urgh det lyder slemt, men umotiverede kærlighedsgerninger duer heller ikke rigtigt.
     For en gangs skyld må jeg give Ugleungerne ret, det lyder bare bedre på engelsk!
     I hvert fald. Jeg var ikke tilfreds med morgenens sære digt på engelsk. Og mens jeg lugede i det dejlige solskin (HURRA! - solen skinnede i dag) tænkte jeg ... og denne sang dukkede op i mit hoved.
     Tænk at det ikke er længere siden end 1868, hvor denne sang blev skrevet, at man som en naturlig ting, efter "gammel ret", var gavmild mod fattige og fugle. Man vidste, at vi er afhængige af hinanden, af naturen, af ikke at udnytte og vride den sidste skilling ud af alting.

1. Marken er mejet, og høet er høstet,
kornet er i laderne og høet står i hæs.
Frugten er plukket og træet er rystet,
og nu går det hjemad med det allersidste læs.
//: Rev vi marken let,
det er gammel ret,
fuglen og den fattige skal også være mæt.*) ://

2. Loen vi pynter med blomster og blade,
vi har georginer og bonderoser nok.
Børnene danser allerede så glade,
alle vore piger står ventende i flok.
//: Bind så korn i krans,
hurra, her til lands
slutter høsten altid med et gilde og en dans. ://
Mads Hansens omskrivning af Adolph von der Rekes naturromantiske digt fra 1868

Denne tradition kendes helt tilbage til gammeltestamentlig tid - se historien om Ruth og Boas i Ruths bog, andet kapitel.

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Random acts of kindness -- for once I have to agree with the Owlets. Some things just sound better in English. I was not happy with today's first try, and while weeding - the sun shone today YAY! - I was thinking ... earlier people were kinder to the poor ones, kinder to nature, kinder all around. They knew the virtues of interdependence. When did we lose this?

I found an old harvest song from 1868. Originally written by Adolph von der Recke and remade by the farmer-poet Mads Hansen.

I tried my hand at translating, it is a happy, dancing tune, but in the middle of the happiness we're as a natural thing reminded to think of those not being well off.

Grain all is shorn now, the hay lies in haystacks
Kernels in the threshing barn and sheaves around us stand.
Fruit have been picked, and treetops all shaken
We're driving homewards with the bounty of the land.
|::|Rake the fields with care,
do not make them bare,
poor man and the sparrow also need their rightful share *)

We dress the barn up with flowers and garland
We have pretty poppies and a sley of roses white
Children are jumping for joy on the bandstand
And look, in the corners pretty girls are smiling bright
|::| Hang up wreaths of straw
In our lovely land
always end the harvest with a party and a dance. |::|

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*) Look to the story of Ruth and Boas in the Bible. Poor people had a right to pick up the leftover grain from the fields. (Book of Ruth, second chapter). For so long this has been customary, but no more.

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Next Monday: Be Humble

6 kommentarer:

  1. This is lovely, especially the line "poor man and the sparrow also need their rightful share". It just sings to my heart. Thank you for translating, Mother Owl.

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. Thank you for commenting. This was actually the line that made me translate the poem.

      Slet
  2. A very nice poem and I well remember my mum and her vegetable gardening, always filling our fridge first, then taking excess to neighbours who she knew didn't have enough. I have done the same here, but not very often as I can't afford to buy extra food just to give away, but if I cook too much and it is something that won't freeze well, I will give to neighbours.

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. There's always someone in need of our excess. It sounds like the rigth thing to do.

      Slet
  3. A beautiful poem, i agree, if we have more than we need, sharing is the right thing to do.

    SvarSlet

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