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Coral Reef - Heredia Récif de Corail

 

.         .         .          .        .
An Abysinnian sunlight’s mystery 

films, filters, reads, reef forest where combine
fauna and flora, found in fluid line
amidst balmy abyss beneath still sea.

In iodine brine, colours cloud crowd, see
purple draped in sumptuous design
through wormy reaches deep pale polyps sign, -
moss, algae, urchins and anemone.

With splendid scales which shame enamels we
may see swift fish swim by reefs coralline,
swish lazily, in sequence serpentine,
then with fast flick of fiery flame fin he
shoots an em’rald, pearl and golden shiver
through crystal stillness blue, yet still a-quiver...

  

 

Author notes

Fish male McCosker's Flasher Wrasse, Paracheilinus mccoskeri
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1536+2648&pcatid=2648


Background Anu Submarine Secrets http://flickr.com/photos/anua22a/2247473378/
Pic Light Infusion Anu (inverted)
http://flickr.com/photos/anua22a/2243501160/

Le Récif de Corail

Le soleil sous la mer, mystérieuse aurore,
Eclaire la forêt des coraux abyssins
Qui mêle, aux profondeurs de ses tièdes bassins,
La bête épanouie et la vivante flore.

Et tout ce que le ciel ou l’iode colore,
Mousse, algue chevelue, anémones, oursins,
Couvre de pourpre sombre en somptueux dessins,
Le fond vermiculé du pâle madrépore.

De sa splendide écaille étreignant les émaux,
Un grand poisson navigue à travers les rameaux.
Dans l’onde transparente indolemment il rôde;

Et brusquement, d’un coup de sa nageoire en feu
Il fait, par le cristal morne, immobile et bleu,
Courir un frisson d’or, de nacre et d’émeraude.

José-Maria de Heredia 1803_1839
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Comments

1 - 31 of 31

  • whispernthedark silver member
    August 22
    ?
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    Beautifully captured. Thank you for entering the contest, good luck.


    whisper
  • JWGoethe
    June 2

    Edit | Reply
    Stunning. Beautiful translation of a truly masterful work. Transcribing from language to language is a herculean task, which you have done a wonderful job of. Keeping the beauty of language, rhythm and flow without losing the message of the original is indeed very difficult. Excellent.
  • Very nce job with this. Thank you for sharing it, for I do not represent the portion of the world that speaks french. Your word choce is very good, and i like your imagery, the poem is filled with it. Great job and good luck!!!

    -Twila
  • Oh I do love this thank you for sharing this with me it is just amazing congrats on your bronze have a great night much love

    . Rewarded 4


  • calendar girl
    April 19
    Edit | Reply
    perfect word choice. i love the picture too

  • 2lullabyhaven
    April 15

    Edit | Reply
    Ahh, oui, this is a double delight; As I have a deep love of the waters-thank you-mercilol

  • MargaretG silver member
    September 13, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    I like the original - my French is not good, are you making up the play on abyss and Abyssinian? I have my usual difficulties with your writing - it is dense with wordplay; the last six lines are far more accessible. The scene is terrific, it is quite easy to imagine the deeps.

  • monkus
    September 13, 2007

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    pretty cool. i don't speak french so don't have any point in looking at the original. but thank you for entering:-)

  • ecrivain01 silver member
    September 8, 2007
    Edit | Reply

    Oh yes ...

    I love the French version too.
  • ecrivain01 silver member
    September 8, 2007
    Edit | Reply

    My oh my ...

    This is a great poem. I absolutely love it.


  • Providence
    August 12, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    Thank you Jonathon. This is beautiful. I have scuba dived some small coral reefs and this is as spectacular as the abundancy at a reef.

    I noted the period it was written (1803_1839) more were literate then than now.

    Just eonderful.
    Marianne

  • BlessedAngel
    January 16, 2007

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    Such a beautiful and powerful piece....so full of breathtaking imagery....proved to be an excellent read...great job! Smiles, Terry

  • Dove Moderators member
    January 15, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    As hard a time as my tongue has saying this poem I still feel this is just beautiful especially the ending. Good luck, awesome poem

  • UnityHope gold member
    January 14, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    wow.. total awesomeness, keep up the GREAT work!!

    love lildw

  • Hekate gold member
    January 14, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    The words and flow in this piece is mind boggling...you've done a wonderful job...wow..the best of luck to you in the contest.

    Kari

  • Akarian silver member
    January 11, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    wow, amazing word play, some i had to look up, which is actually pretty rare for me. You have great skill with a pen (well in this case a keyboard, but same difference), use it well. Great imagry!

    Keep up the good work!

    . Rewarded 4


  • valkyriedisector
    January 10, 2007
    Edit | Reply

    <

    that was funny
  • dustookie2 silver member
    January 10, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    There is a crescendo of imagery for the reader to visualize and enjoy. Thank you for sharing this translation with us as you say we here on AP would not have access to this poem. Then not of your nationality perhaps would not going searching for it either. I do appreciate your kind thoughts and posting this so we may have the pleasure of this poem. As the poem is not by your pen it would not be appropriate of me to make comment to you but I will applaud the translation and your effort of bringing this poem to our eyes.

    . Rewarded 4


  • Mallius
    January 9, 2007

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    Now you have me wishing i was there! The snow is falling here now and i'm cold. Thanks for warming me up!

    Fantastic use of descriptive words and rhyme. There's only one thing that i don't quite understand. Why the ambiguity in the line "then with fast flick of fiery flame fin [s]he" (great use of alliteration). Does this poem set in east Africa? A stunning landscape!

    Thanks
    -Mal

    . Rewarded 4


  • Cannonsfire silver member
    January 9, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    Lovely description of the oceans and the life within them, takes me to the Great Barrier Reef here in Australia which is truly spectacular until those awful crown of thorn starfish started destroying it. We have to preserve the worlds beautiful wonders. Lovely write.
  • cirtualillusuon
    January 9, 2007

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    wow this was an actualy good poem! i am so proud haha ... i thought this poem has many different dispositions to it, and the facade of this poem just draws you into the histories and places mentioned.. it was timeless, like a ocean or a place, and i thought it flowed perfectly, if not beatifically.. thanks for posting this i am so glad i got the chance to read this.. the only thing that i thought might need some reworking is the last verse, it seemed appart from the other poetry in this poem... and sorta anti-consumational... but yeah the first stanze was by far the best, and the first line of the fist stanza the best therein.. thanks again =)
    plur

  • Topaz
    January 9, 2007

    Edit | Reply

    Quill Master

    Yes, Stunning would be just one word to describe the beauty of your poetry. You are the master of your quill. Just an old humble fan, said she.

    Lula


  • Tam gold member
    January 9, 2007

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    My Goodness...
    your command of vocabulary is truly mind blowing...
    and your pen has such a leadership of words and imagery...
    it is almost like the alphabets are your soldiers and you are the General...giving orders...and your soldiers respond with respect and admiration...
    falling into place exactly as requested...
    upon my eyes and leaving me wondering...
    HOW? How did he do this?
    STUNNING...
    Blessings! Tammy

1 - 31 of 31