SEEDS
Molly De Havas
After Christmas it’s time to be thinking of Spring,
And the flowers and vegetables springtime will bring.
We must go to a shop and choose packets of seeds
To be sown in the garden to fill all our needs.
First the weeds must be pulled and the clean earth laid bare.
Then dug over, and broken, and levelled with care;
Next in furrows and holes that we’ve made in the earth
We will plant the brown seeds, and with joy wait their birth.
(The Waldorf Book of Poetry, ed. by David Kennedy,
Living Arts Books, Wisconsin, 2012, p.100)
Footprints in the Sand by Margaret Fishback Powers
“One night I dreamed a dream. ある晩私は夢を見た As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. 砂浜を主とともに歩いていると Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. 空を横切って瞬いたのは我が人生の出来事さまざま For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, そのひとつずつに、ふた組のあしあとが砂に残っていた One belonging to me and one to my Lord. ひと組は私、もうひと組は主のものが
After the last scene of my life flashed before me, 人生最後の場面が閃くと I looked back at the footprints in the sand. 私は振り返って砂に残されたあしあとに目をやった I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, 幾度も、人生の道すがら、 especially at the very lowest and saddest times, ことさら沈みきり、悲しみ極まった時ばかり there was only one set of footprints. あしあとはひと組しかなかった
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. このことにひどく苛まれ、私は主を質した “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, 「主よ、おっしゃいましたね、ひとたびあなたに従うと決めたなら You’d walk with me all the way. どこまでも私と共に歩いて下さると But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, けれど、もっとも悲しく辛かったときに there was only one set of footprints. あしあとはひと組しかありませんでした。 I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.” わかりませんね、なぜ、心底居てほしかったときに、あなたは私を見放してばかりなのか。」
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you 主はささやいた。「いとしい我が子、大切なあなたを決して見放しなどしない。 Never, ever, during your trials and testings. 絶えて、決して、あなたの試練の時になど。 When you saw only one set of footprints, あなたの目にひと組のあしあとしか映らなかったのは…
今回、F大学で紹介したら、まあ、ブレイクアウトルームでアイデア出しの時間が大盛り上がりで面白いこと！精選して、クラスでおおー！と声が上がったのがこちらです。 「I was walking ahead of you so that you could follow me stepping into my footprint.」
いいじゃない！オリジナルよりいいじゃない!オリジナルはこれです。It was then that I carried you。
All we’ve been given By those who came before The dream of a nation Where freedom would endure The work and prayers Of centuries Have brought us to this day
What shall be our legacy? What will our children say? Let them say of me I was one who believed In sharing the blessings I received Let me know in my heart When my days are through America America I gave my best to you
Each generation from the plains To distant shore with the gifts What they were given Were determined To leave more Valiant battles fought together acts of conscience fought alone these are the seeds From which America has grown
Let them say of me I was one who believed In sharing the blessings I received Let me know in my heart When my days are through America America I gave my best to you
For those who think They have nothing to share Who fear in their hearts There is no hero there Know each quiet act Of dignity is That which fortifies The soul of a nation That never dies
Let them say of me I was one who believed In sharing the blessings I received Let me know in my heart When my days are through America America I gave my best to you
This is the day１ Of the expanding man２ That shape is my shade１ There where I used to stand２ It seems like only yesterday１ I gazed through the glass３ At ramblers４ Wild gamblers４ That's all in the past３
man とstand、 glassと pastで韻と言えるの？と思われるかも知れません。綴りとしては不完全な韻です。でも歌をお聴きください。ばっちりです。歌は母音が長くなって強調されます。おまけにフェイゲンは行末の子音を柔らかく歌ってますから丁度いいです。
You call me a fool１ You say it's a crazy scheme２ This one's for real１？２？ I already bought the dream２ So useless to ask me why３ Throw a kiss and say goodbye３ I'll make it this time４ I'm ready to cross that fine line４
“‘Deacon Blues’ is about as close to autobiography as our tunes get. We were both kids who grew up in the suburbs, we both felt fairly alienated. Like a lot of kids in the ’50s, we were looking for some kind of alternative culture, an escape from where we found ourselves.” 「Deacon Bluesって僕らの自伝みたいなもの。二人とも子どもの頃は郊外で育ったけど、すごく疎外感があった。50年代、多くの子どもたちと同じように僕らもなんらかのオルタナティブな文化を探してた。実際の居場所からの逃避としてね。」
I'll learn to work the saxophone１ I'll play just what I feel２ Drink Scotch whisky all night long１ And die behind the wheel２ They got a name for the winners in the world I want a name when I lose 3 They call Alabama the Crimson Tide４ Call me Deacon Blues３
My back to the wall 1 A victim of laughing chance 2 This is for me The essence of true romance 2 Sharing the things we know and love 3 With those of my kind Libations 4 Sensations 4
英語でBack to the wallを背水の陣、とすると耳には心地よくても景色が違うなあ、と悩ましいです。ここでちょっと目立つ言葉はvictimとlibation。後者は要するにお酒ですが、alcohol, drinkでは韻が台無し。それにlibationは生贄を捧げるときに大地に注いだりするお神酒、献げものとしてのお酒をさします。2行目のVictimと響き合うでしょう？それにしてもチャンスがlaughing…って。笑うにもいろいろあります。静かににっこりはsmile,歯をむき出してバカにしたように笑うのはgrin.laughは「声をあげて笑う」。生贄をほふりながら声を挙げて笑う…grinより却って怖いです。力が抜けそう…
I crawl like a viper 1 Through these suburban streets 2 Make love to these women Languid and bittersweet 2 I'll rise when the sun goes down 3 Cover every game in town 3 A world of my own 4 I'll make it my home sweet home 4
This is the night 1 Of the expanding man 2 I take one last drag As I approach the stand 2 I cried when I wrote this song 3 Sue me if I play too long 3 This brother is free 4 I'll be what I want to be 4
さいごのI’ll be what I want to beは「俺はなりたい俺になる」でもいいと思います。ただ、「なりたい自分になる」は自己啓発で使い古されたポジティブ表現。「成る」に10代のようなナイーブさを感じるのは私だけでしょうか。語呂の事情もあるしょうが、ここはbeの「在る」の禅語を思わせるニュアンスを遺したいと思いました。
「君はグリーンストリートで大暴れしたらしいね」という訳を見かけましたが、これはお話を作りすぎかも。ジャーナリズムじゃないんです。また、a book of numbersを旧約聖書としているのも見かけましたが、これはthe book of numbers民数記と取り違えたのでしょう。a, theを甘く見てはいけません。電話帳を a book of numbers というのは普通ではありませんが、ここは語調、曲調からa phone bookでは字足らずです。
Break away when it seems so clear that it is now over のところはまだ会心とはいきません…別れた女をどう呼ぶかも悩ましい…お目汚しでございます。日本語でも韻を踏み過ぎるとあざといのでちょっと外しました。放っておくと七五調になりますが、それは気をつけてひっこめました。
In the corner 1 Of my eye 2 I saw you in Rudy's 3 You were very high 2 You were high 2 It was a cryin' disgrace 4 They saw your face 4 On the counter 1 By your keys 2 Was a book of numbers 3 And your remedies 2 One of these 2 Surely will screen out the sorrow 4 But where are you tomorrow 4 I can't cry anymore 1 While you run around 2 Break away 3 Just when it 4 Seems so clear 5 That it's 4 Over now 6 Drink your big black cow 6 And get out of here 5 Down to Greene Street 1 There you go 2 Lookin' so outrageous 3 And they tell you so 2 You should know 2 How all the pros play the game 4 You change your name 4 Like a gangster 1 On the run 2 You will stagger homeward 3 To your precious one 2 I'm the one 2 Who must make everything right 4 Talk it out till daylight 4
I don't care anymore 1 Why you run around 2 Break away 3 Just when it 4 Seems so clear 5 That it's 4 Over now 6 Drink your big black cow 6 And get out of here 5
今朝、Eさんが用意したのはキャロル・ケネディ元駐日アメリカ大使のお別れの挨拶の一部。「ケネディ大使の英語はpure and simpleですてきなんですが、日本語が…」
おやおや、そういうこともあるものなんですね。ちょいと拝見。
前略 I am grateful to the people of Tohoku for welcoming me and for inspiring the world with your courage and resilience. I was deeply moved to meet students who are staying in the region to work on revitalization, local officials who put their communities first despite great personal loss and see the progress being made over the past three years to rebuild lives and communities. 後略
