This is a short collection of Latin (Poems #1,3, 5) and English (Poems #2, 4) poems on nature, with each original poem followed by a creative translation into the other language.
Poem#1
fīnis Hiemis, initium Vēris
heri
nebula alba in prātō pendēbat
quidque amicīre vidēbātur
pars caelī cāsa.
aqua crystallina stillābat
līlia lēnia alēns
canor cygnī
Hiemem sēdābat.
hodiē
Vēr excitant
commōtiō occupāta
lūx splendidissima
rhythmus laetus canēns circum.
end of Winter, beginning of Spring
yesterday,
gray mist hung over the field
it seemed to cover everything,
a fallen piece of the sky.
shining water began trickling down,
nourishing the soft lilies
the song of a swan
lulled Winter to sleep.
today
Spring wakes
to busy movement
blinding light
joyful rhythm resounding all around.
Poem#2
listening silence
mist drifts softly through the trees
a symphony of birdcalls greets your ears
water chuckles playfully as it bounds over the brook
chipmunks chase one another on the mossy floor
sunlight filters through the leaves
clouds protect the sky from the sun’s beamful glare
and in the midst of it all
you may feel as though you are
a l o n e
but the forest listens.
it always does.
silentium quod audit
nebula lēniter per arborēs errat
symphōnia fritinnītōrum aurēs tuās salūtat
lympha lascīvē rīdet dum rīvō salit
tamiae inter sē lūdunt solō muscōsō
sōl per folia lābitur
nūbēs caelum prōtegunt ab fulgōre sōlis clārō
et in mediō omnium
sentiās tē esse
s ō l u m
sed audit silva.
semper.
Poem#3
diēs serēna
diē apud mare
undae animam meam lavant
ō murmur audīre
sīdō ad fundī gemmās
mē humō aureā harēnā
cubō inter rosās spīrōque
ac diem ēgī apud mare
glaucum spūmeum mīrum
quiēscō tandem.
serene day
a day by the sea
the waves wash my soul
oh to hear their murmur
i sink to jewels of the depths
bury myself with golden sand
lay among roses and breathe
and i have spent a day by the sea
bright foamy astonishing
i rest at last.
Poem #4
cradles of color
rain drips slowly from the silent trees.
clouds press back into their places.
the wind calms its roaring.
the sky holds its breath.
soon a bridge of hues paints the sky.
pieces of the sun beam through the cracks.
a promise of peace spreads through the ground.
the rainbow promises to linger.
cūnae colōris
pluvia lentē rōrat dē arboribus quiētīs.
remeant nūbēs in sēdēs.
flāmen mūgītum plācat.
aether animam suam retinet.
iam pōns colōrum aetherem fūcat.
ēnitent sōlis fragmenta per rīmās.
spēs pācis per humum patēscit.
arcus morārī pollicētur.
Poem#5
ventī gelidī
theae calor
et flōrum cubīle
et dulcissima carmina
sed ventī forīs gelidissimī
est eadem diēs quae alia
et fortūnāta et maesta
sed aliquandō relinquēmus
hōs ventōs gelidōs tandem!
chilly winds
the warmth of tea
and a bed of flowers
and the sweetest songs
but the chilliest winds outside
it's the same day as the others
both fortunate and sad
but someday we'll leave behind
these chilly winds at last!
