Quenya Poetry Competition 10/05 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Encaitare · 10-08-2005, 04:44 PM

NOTE: This is a general translation of a song I wrote in English, so it has a pattern of two verses and a refrain. Stress is not noted because in Quenya, there is no rhyme scheme or meter. Hopefully it's mostly accurate -- if anyone sees any errors, please point them out to me!

I Nairë Ciryaquenion

Lempë löar avánier mal séyëa lil andavë
Ar yando avánielyë
Mal i véri melmiva löar illumë lil tulca

Eleni quilderi sílar ëarinna
Vi míri ya hehtanelyë
Ar i falmar ya apparëar cirya nar peulya appiën

Ëar ná ringa ar morna nu
I laurë palmiva
Ar hehtuvanyë ilya mal nyérë
Ëar, ar elyë an illumë

Mai quettin lingwë-lindë, hlaruvalyë yellinya?
Mí rangwer aneressëar mardealyë
Nat núro-vendë mí parder arnar ëariva

Cenin antalya mí lango-nís
Tulyealyën illumë avaháya
Ar nat er vanwa, meldanyë, ú-firin

Ëar ná ringa ar morna nu
I laurë palmiva
Ar hehtuvanyë ilya mal nyérë
Ëar, ar elyë an illumë

Andavë aránienyë, ciryaquen ar raumoroquen
Lirië asácienyël earinna úvoronda
Ná I nissë milca, ar fëayna ná vanwa

Melnenyel acca olë ar avaleryanelyes
Ar i Anar calëa calimavë or i nén síra
Mal i ëar ne avaleryanel ar ëas mi inyë
Ar ilyë, meldanyë ëa illumë yando mi inyë

Ëar ná ringa ar morna nu
I laurë palmiva
Ar hehtuvanyë ilya mal nyérë
Ëar, ar elyë an illumë

~*~*~*~*~

NOTE 2: I have taken a few small liberties here, changing the English from the literal Quenya to make it flow more smoothly (ie: more long --> longer), and because not all the words I wanted are attested. Significant changes have the literal translated word(s) in brackets, ie: kiss [touch]

The Sailor’s Lament

Five years have gone but it seems much longer
And you have vanished too
But the bonds of love grow ever stronger

Silent stars shimmer upon the sea
Like the diamonds you forsook
And the waves that kiss [touch] the hull [ship] are your lips kissing [touching] me

The sea is cold and dark below
The surface's golden shine
And I will forget all but the desolate,
The ocean, and you for all of time

If I speak in whale-song will you answer my calls?
In the loneliest fathoms you're dwelling
You're a lady-in-waiting in the ocean's parlor halls

I see your face in that of my figurehead [prow-woman]
You lead me far and ever away
And you're only lost, my darling, never dead

The sea is cold and dark below
The surface's golden shine
And I will forget all but the desolate,
The ocean, and you for all of time

Long have I wandered, a stormriding sailor
Singing I've sought you on the treacherous sea
She is a jealous [greedy] mistress, and I am a failure [my soul is lost]

I loved you too well and she took you away from me
And the sun shines brightly over the water today
But 'twas the sea who took you and she lives in me
And you, my beloved, live ever too in me

The sea is cold and dark below
The surface's golden shine
And I will forget all but the desolate,
The ocean, and you for all of time

10-08-2005, 04:44 PM	#4
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	I Nairë Ciryaquenion NOTE: This is a general translation of a song I wrote in English, so it has a pattern of two verses and a refrain. Stress is not noted because in Quenya, there is no rhyme scheme or meter. Hopefully it's mostly accurate -- if anyone sees any errors, please point them out to me! I Nairë Ciryaquenion Lempë löar avánier mal séyëa lil andavë Ar yando avánielyë Mal i véri melmiva löar illumë lil tulca Eleni quilderi sílar ëarinna Vi míri ya hehtanelyë Ar i falmar ya apparëar cirya nar peulya appiën Ëar ná ringa ar morna nu I laurë palmiva Ar hehtuvanyë ilya mal nyérë Ëar, ar elyë an illumë Mai quettin lingwë-lindë, hlaruvalyë yellinya? Mí rangwer aneressëar mardealyë Nat núro-vendë mí parder arnar ëariva Cenin antalya mí lango-nís Tulyealyën illumë avaháya Ar nat er vanwa, meldanyë, ú-firin Ëar ná ringa ar morna nu I laurë palmiva Ar hehtuvanyë ilya mal nyérë Ëar, ar elyë an illumë Andavë aránienyë, ciryaquen ar raumoroquen Lirië asácienyël earinna úvoronda Ná I nissë milca, ar fëayna ná vanwa Melnenyel acca olë ar avaleryanelyes Ar i Anar calëa calimavë or i nén síra Mal i ëar ne avaleryanel ar ëas mi inyë Ar ilyë, meldanyë ëa illumë yando mi inyë Ëar ná ringa ar morna nu I laurë palmiva Ar hehtuvanyë ilya mal nyérë Ëar, ar elyë an illumë ~~~~~ NOTE 2: I have taken a few small liberties here, changing the English from the literal Quenya to make it flow more smoothly (ie: more long --> longer), and because not all the words I wanted are attested. Significant changes have the literal translated word(s) in brackets, ie: kiss [touch] The Sailor’s Lament Five years have gone but it seems much longer And you have vanished too But the bonds of love grow ever stronger Silent stars shimmer upon the sea Like the diamonds you forsook And the waves that kiss [touch] the hull [ship] are your lips kissing [touching] me The sea is cold and dark below The surface's golden shine And I will forget all but the desolate, The ocean, and you for all of time If I speak in whale-song will you answer my calls? In the loneliest fathoms you're dwelling You're a lady-in-waiting in the ocean's parlor halls I see your face in that of my figurehead [prow-woman] You lead me far and ever away And you're only lost, my darling, never dead The sea is cold and dark below The surface's golden shine And I will forget all but the desolate, The ocean, and you for all of time Long have I wandered, a stormriding sailor Singing I've sought you on the treacherous sea She is a jealous [greedy] mistress, and I am a failure [my soul is lost] I loved you too well and she took you away from me And the sun shines brightly over the water today But 'twas the sea who took you and she lives in me And you, my beloved, live ever too in me The sea is cold and dark below The surface's golden shine And I will forget all but the desolate, The ocean, and you for all of time