The poem
Tree, tree dry and green.
The girl with the pretty face is out picking olives. The wind, playboy of towers, grabs her around the waist. Four riders passed by on Andalusian ponies, with blue and green jackets and big, dark capes. "Come to Cordoba, muchacha." The girl won't listen to them. Three young bullfighters passed, slender in the waist, with jackets the color of oranges and swords of ancient silver. "Come to Sevilla, muchacha." The girl won't listen to them. When the afternoon had turned dark brown, with scattered light, a young man passed by, wearing roses and myrtle of the moon. "Come to Granada, inuchacha." And the girl won't listen to him. The girl with the pretty face keeps on picking olives with the grey arm of the wind wrapped around her waist. Tree, tree dry and green.
Why the freaking h*** did you translate Lorca's poems? They are one of the biggest pieces of history from Spain, and I take great offense from seeing his works, writen in my language and for my land translated to English! Anyone who is going to read these poems must know their meaning! There is no meaning to the poem to those who don't know Spanish!
To say that the translation of any poets work can not be understood by someone from another culture shows a great lack of faith in the understanding of your peers. It is translated in tribute to his work and to spread knowledge of his poetry and the contributions he made. This does not make him any less of a historical figure in Spain. In fact, it pays homage to him. Translators take great passion in the work that…
Read the whole commentTo say that the translation of any poets work can not be understood by someone from another culture shows a great lack of faith in the understanding of your peers. It is translated in tribute to his work and to spread knowledge of his poetry and the contributions he made. This does not make him any less of a historical figure in Spain. In fact, it pays homage to him. Translators take great passion in the work that they do because they do not merely believe they are exchanging one language for another but more importantly maintaining its meaning and the strength brought from its native language. I can read Lorca and although my experience may be different from yours I hope you will have faith that how it affects me can be equally as powerful as the way you are moved.