Re: Translation exercise - On a Night of Snow

Nokta Kanto wrote:

> I ran across this poem and thought it could be a good translation
> exercise. Nothing like a little poetry to incite one's wanderlust.
A lovely poem.  To translate into Kash, it requires some suspension of
belief and other changes--
(1) No sensible mother would allow a kusimi in her house. They are cat-size
and friendly, but poor telepaths, and definitely wild hunters.  A child
might coax one indoors, but it would soon freak out, climbing walls, drapes,
lampshades etc. lookng for a way out.  And it might leave a solid or liquid
souvenir behind to mark new territory!
(2) There is nothing resembling milk. So it's a "cup of broth"
>
> ON A NIGHT OF SNOW
>  Elizabeth Coatsworth
>
>  Cat, if you go outdoors, you must walk in the snow.
>  You will come back with little white shoes on your feet,
>  little white shoes of snow that have heels of sleet.
>  Stay by the fire, my Cat. Lie still, do not go.
>  See how the flames are leaping and hissing low,
>  I will bring you a saucer of milk like a marguerite,
>  so white and so smooth, so spherical and so sweet -
>  stay with me, Cat. Outdoors the wild winds blow.
>
>  Outdoors the wild winds blow, Mistress, and dark is the night,
>  strange voices cry in the trees, intoning strange lore,
>  and more than cats move, lit by our eyes green light,
>  on silent feet where the meadow grasses hang hoar -
>  Mistress, there are portents abroad of magic and might,
>  and things that are yet to be done. Open the door!
ONDRE NIFA
kusi, pun cosa opor, cayi hapripis nifani--
hamamaçando halimbe lingaranaç mimik vanat,
lingaranaç nifa re nunjapaçni lipet ripamir--
unayoka, kusi, ri vora yukruça-- trakoram çangangapo--
huçani--tiká!-- necu-necu, mepu sisiyu--
te mafilando koci sutuwi, ciñur i cukin,
simoñi yawuñat, tolani yatamit.
unayoka yamban, kusimi, ri opor ya yangala.

ri opor ya yangala, susami, i ondre oramba--
mangoç ehakas me yamen ri angeç, olamaç ehas--
i ri haya niluçmi çumo, nin kumor matikas,
sini-sinis ri lanakan amiyaci--
susami, yahutuç ya riyun, çehanga peçaka--
i sambat acalaç re cayi matitingas.  pahaka findu!

Paraphrase and interlinear will follow.

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