Overture
by Tarık Günersel / November 8, 2013 / No comments
Tarik Günersel presents a statement, a poem in 32 languages.
'Situation' A visual poem by Tarık Günersel.
“Overture” is a statement with a wish. Below are its English, Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Basque, Bulgarian, Chewa, Chinese (Mandarin), Esperanto, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Kurdish (Kirmani), Latin, Laz, Macedonian, Mongolian, Nepali, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, and Uyghur translations, as well as its Turkish original. I am grateful to my friends who have done the translations.
- Life is words in action, literature is action in words.
Humans are about to destroy their spaceship Earth. Some of them are aware of this and they try to change the course of events. Will they succeed? Will more humans be alarmed and do something?
Literature is vital and translators are messengers of world peace.
Though I shall focus on the literary scene in Turkey and its problems regarding freedom of expression, I shall not omit the other parts of our planet. Today local is global and vice versa.
- Tarık Günersel is a poet, playwright, aphorist, librettist and short story writer. He is the president of PEN Turkey and an ex-member of the PEN International Board. He studied English Literature at Istanbul University. A self-exile after the military coup in 1980, he spent four years in Saudi Arabia with his wife Füsun and their daughter Barış, teaching English. A dramaturg at Istanbul City Theater since 1991, he has acted on stage and screen and directed some of his plays. He proposed World Poetry Day in 1997 which was accepted by PEN International and declared by UNESCO as the 21st of March. His translations into Turkish include works by Samuel Beckett, Vaclav Havel and Arthur Miller. His works include The Nightmare of a Labyrinth (mosaic of poems and stories), and How’s your slavery goin’? His Oluşmak (To Become), a “life guide for myself,” includes ideas from world wisdom of the past four millennia. He has recently initiated the Earth Civilization Project with the support of several intellectuals from various parts of the planet.
More languages are welcome.
Overture
I’m human.
I live with other living beings.
I’m a part of Nature.
I’m for work and solidarity.
I’m against injustice and violence.
I have rights as a human,
and duties for world peace.
May contributions lead to contributions.
Note: Here “work” implies good deeds. It is not in contrast with leisure and not limited to working for a living. The word ‘contribution’ is ‘positive input,’ not limited to (though not necessarily excluding) financial aid. In Turkish the word ‘katkı’ is ‘contribution’ in a general and comprehensive sense.
*
Albanian translation by Entela Kasi
Author, President of PEN Albania:
Jam njeri
Jam qenie njerëzore me të tjerë
Jam pjesë e natyrës
Jam për punën dhe solidaritetin
Jam kundër padrejtësisë dhe dhunës
Kam të drejta si qënie humane
Dhe detyra për paqen në botë
Ndoshta kontributet drejtojnë kontribute.
*
Arabic translation by Ekbal Baraka
Author, Int’l Chair of PEN Women Writers Committee Egypt:
أنا الإنسان.
أنا كائن حي مع الكائنات الحية الآخرين.
أنا جزء من الطبيعة.
أنا أومن بالعمل والتضامن.
أنا ضد الظلم والعنف.
لدي حقوق كإنسان،
وواجبات من أجل السلام العالمي.
و لسوف تؤدى الأعمال الصالحة الى المزيد من فعل الخير .
*
Armenian translation by Ikna Sarıaslan
Poet, Member of PEN Turkey:
Armenian translation in Latin script:
Mart yem.
Müys eagnerun kov eag mı.
Pnutyan masnigı.
Vasdagin yev zoragtsutyan kovn yem.
Aniravutyan yev prnutyan temn yem.
Vorbes mart iravunkner
Aşkharhi khağağutyan hamar bardaganutyunner unim.
Nbasdnerı toğ nor nbasdneru campa panan.
*
Basque translation by Urtzi Urrutikoetxea
Writer, President of Basque PEN
Gizakia naiz.
Besteekin bizi den izakia naiz.
Naturaren zati naiz.
Lanaren eta elkartasunaren alde naiz.
Bidegabekeriaren eta indarkeriaren aurka naiz.
Eskubideak ditut gizaki legez,
eta betebeharrak munduko bakerako.
Ekarpenek ekarpenak ekar bitzate.
*
Bulgarian translation by Alek Popov
Novelist, PEN Bulgaria:
Аз съм човек.
Аз съм живо същество, заедно с другите.
Аз съм част от Природата.
Аз съм за труд и солидарност.
Аз съм срещу неправдата и насилието.
Аз имам права като човек
и отговорност към световния мир.
Моят личен принос води към други приноси.
*
Chewa translation by Nicholas Kawinga
Author, Theater Director, President of PEN Zambia:
Ine ndine munthu.
Ine ndine munthu wa moyo,
wokhala bwino ndi anzache.
Ine ndine mbali la cilengedwe.
Ine ndikonda kugwira nchito,
za manja ndi kugwirizana ndi ena.
Ine sindigwirizana ndi uchenjezi,
sindikondanso chipongwe ndi chipolowe.
Ine ndine munthu odziwa za umunthu,
ndilinso ndi nchito yokoza batha
ndi mtendere pa dziko lonse.
Thandizo litsogolere ubwino wopeleka thandizo.
*
Chinese (Mandarin) translation by Aynur Güneş
Lawyer, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China:
我是人类。
与其他生物一起我是一个生命。
我是大自然的一部分。
我保卫劳动，保卫团结。
我反对不公平，反对暴力。
作为人类，
我享有权利，
对世界和平负有职责。
望贡献推动贡献。
*
Esperanto translation by Giorgio Silfer
Poet, Essayist and Playwright
Esperanto PEN Centre, Europe:
Mi estas homa.
Mi estas estulo vivanta kun aliaj.
Mi estas parto de la Naturo.
Mi estas por laboro kaj solidareco.
Mi estas kontraù maljusto kaj perforto.
Mi havas rajtojn kiel homa estulo, kaj devojn por mondopaco.
Povu kontribuoj konduki al kontribuoj.
*
Estonian translation by Kätlin Kaldmaa
Poet, President of PEN Estonia Center:
Ma olen inimene.
Ma elan koos teiste elusolenditega.
Ma olen looduse osa.
Ma seisan töö ja solidaarususe eest.
Ma seisan ebaõigluse ja vägivalla vastu.
Minul kui inimesel on õigused,
ja kohustus seista maailmarahu eest.
Toogu minu panus kaasa teiste panused.
*
French translation by Beverly Barbey
Translator, Member of French PEN Center:
Je suis un être humain.
Je suis un être vivant avec d’autres.
Je fais partie de la nature.
Je suis pour le travail et la solidarité.
Je suis contre l’injustice et la violence.
J’ai des droits en tant qu’être humain
et des devoirs pour la paix dans le monde.
Que des contributions entraînent d’autres contributions.
*
German translation by Ulrike Olbrich
Opera Dramaturg, Germany:
Ich bin ein Mensch.
Ich bin ein Lebewesen mit allen anderen.
Ich bin Teil der Natur.
Ich bin für Arbeit und Solidarität.
Ich bin gegen Unrecht und Gewalt.
Ich habe Rechte als Mensch
und Pflichten für den Weltfrieden.
Mögen Beiträge zu Beiträgen führen.
*
Greek translation by Alexandros Adamopoulos
Poet and Playwright, Greece:
Είμαι άνθρωπος.
Είμ’ ένα ζωντανό πλάσμα, μαζί με άλλους.
Είμ΄ένα κομμάτι της ζωής.
Πιστεύω στην εργασία και στην αλληλεγγύη
Είμ’ ενάντια στην αδικία και στη βία.
Έχω δικαιώματα ως άνθρωπος
και υποχρεώσεις για την παγκόσμια ειρήνη
Είθε η συμβολή μου, να φέρει κι άλλες συνεισφορές.
*
Hebrew translation by Yinon Muallem
Cultural Atache, Israel:
אני אנושי
נשמתי נמצאת בחברת נשמות אחרות
אני חלק מהטבע
אני בעד עבודה והיזדהות עם הזולת
אני נגד חוזר צדק ואלימות
יש לי זכויות כבן אנוש
ומחויבות לשלום עולמי
אני תקווה שתרומה תוביל לתרומות רבות
Hebrew translation in Latin alphabet:
Ani enosi.
Nismati nimzet behevrat nesamot aherot.
Ani helek mehateva.
Ani baad avoda ve hizdahut im hazulat.
Ani neged hoser tzedek ve alimut.
Yes li zcuyut keben enosh
ve mehoyavut le shalom olami.
Ani tikva shetruma tovil letrumot rabot.
*
Italian translation by Antonio Della Rocca
Novelist, President of Trieste PEN
Member of PEN Int’l Board:
Sono umano.
Sono un essere vivente assieme ad altri.
Sono parte della Natura.
Sono a favore del lavoro e della solidarietà.
Sono contro l’ingiustizia e la violenza.
Come uomo ho dei diritti,
e dei doveri per la pace nel mondo.
Possa ogni apporto indurre altri apporti.
*
Kurdish (Kirmani) translation by Dr. Selim Temo
Anthologist of Kurdish Poetry, Academic
Member of PEN Turkey:
Ez mirov im
Jîndarek im tevî jîndarên din
Perçeyekê xwezayê me
Alîgirê kedê û piştevaniyê û
Li dijî neheqî û şiddetê me
Weke mirov mafên min
Ji bo aşîtiya cîhanê peywirên min hene.
Bila alîkarî rêya alîkariyan veke.
*
Latin translation by Bedia Demiriş
Professor of Latin Literature at Istanbul University:
Homo sum.
Vivus sum cum aliis animalibus.
Pars naturae sum.
Cupidus sum laboris societatisque.
Invitus sum iniuriae violentiaeque.
Habeo iura humana atque
officia pacis mundi.
Participationes ferant alias participationes.
*
Laz translation by Nükhet Eren
Author and Translator, Member of PEN Turkey:
Qoçi vore
Çkva şuronepe şqala ar şuri vore
Naturaşi natzili vore
Emeği do nodişi gzaşe vulur
Xarqi do geçama movivaram
Qoçinobaşi xarqepe,
Kianaşi cumaloba şeni dulyape miğun
Noderepe noderepes anthalas…
*
Macedonian translation by Katica Kulavkova
Professor of Literary Theory, PEN Int’l Vice-President:
Превод на македонски: Катица Ќулавкова
Јас сум човек
Јас сум живо суштество како и останатите
Јас сум дел од Природата
Јас сум за работа и солидарност
Јас сум против неправда и насилство
Јас имам права како човек
и обврска кон светскиот мир.
Хувь нэмэр оруулаахар хувь нэмэрээ авчирна.
*
Mongolian translation by Munkhnaran Ooyi
Academic, Mongolia:
Би бол хүн.
Би бусадтай хамт оршигч.
Би бол байгалийн хэсэг.
Би хөдөлмөр болон эв санааны нэгдэл.
Би хүчирхийлэл болон шударга бусын эсрэг.
Хүн болохоор надад эрхүүд бий,
бас дэлхийн энх тайвны төлөөр үүрэг ч бий.
Хувь нэмэр оруулаахар хувь нэмэрээ авчирна.
*
Nepali translation by Prem Timalsena
Nepal/USA
म मानव हु /
म अरु संग बस्ने एउटा जीवित प्राणी हु /
म प्रकृति को एक खण्ड हु /
म परिश्रम र मानव एकता को लागी हु /
म अन्याय र अत्याचार को बिरोदी हु /
मानव को हैसियत ले मेरो अधिकार छ,
र बिस्व शान्ति को लागी कर्त्यव्य छ /
मानवताको लगी
केही योगदान बाट धेरै योगदान हुदै जाहोस/
*
Norwegian translation by Eugene Schoulgin
Novelist, PEN Int’l Vice-President, Norway:
Jeg er et menneske
Jeg lever blant andre mennesker
Jeg er en del av naturen
Jeg er for arbeide og
Jeg liker ikke urettferdighet (hvem gjør det?) og vold.
Jeg har rettigheter som menneske
og ansvar for verdensfreden
Mitt engagement leder til engagement
*
Persian translation by Fariba Marzban
Author, Member of Iranian-Writers-in Exile:
من یک انسانم.
زندگی من در بودن با دیگران هست.
من جزئی از طبیعتم.
من در پی اتحاد، همیاری و همبستگی م.
من مخالف هستم با بی عدالتی و خشونت.
من به عنوان یک انسان دارای حقوقی هستم،
و وظایفی دارم در برقراری صلح جهانی.
ممکن است مشارکت بشردوستانه منجر به همکاری بیشتر بشود.
*
Polish translation by Anna Nasilowska
Author, Professor of Literature, Polish PEN Centre:
Jestem człowiekiem.
Żyję wśród innych.
Jestem częścią przyrody.
Jestem za pracą i solidarnością.
Jestem przeciw niesprawiedliwości i przemocy.
Mam prawa jako człowiek
i obowiązki by pokój panował na świecie.
Oby mój udział pomnażał dobro.
*
Portuguese translation by Teresa Cadete
Author, President of Portuguese PEN:
Sou um ser humano
Sou um ser vivo com outros seres vivos
Sou parte da Natureza
Sou a favor do trabalho e da solidariedade.
Sou contra a injustiça e a violência.
Tenho direitos como ser humano
e deveres em prol da paz.
Que as contribuições levem a novas contribuições.
*
Romanian translation by Magda Carneci
Writer, President of PEN Romania:
Sunt un om.
Sunt o ființă vie împreună cu ceilalți.
Sunt o parte a Naturii.
Sunt pentru muncă și solidaritate.
Sunt împotriva injustiției și violenței.
Am drepturi în calitate de om,
și datorii pentru pacea lumii.
Fie ca contribuțiile să ducă la contribuții.
*
Russian translation by Kanat Kabdrakhmanov
Author, PEN Member, Kazakhstan:
Начиная свой день
Вспоминаю, что я – человек.
Живое существо. Как другие.
И часть природы.
Защищаю труд и солидарность.
Выступаю против несправедливости и жестокости.
Имею права
И обязанности хранить мир в этом мире.
То, что делаю, умножает возможности других.
*
Slovak translation by Milan Richter
Poet and Playwright
President of Slovak Writers Association:
Som človek.
Som živá bytosť žijúca spolu s inými bytosťami.
Som časťou prírody.
Som za prácu a solidaritu.
Som proti nespravodlivosti a násiliu.
Ako človek mám svoje práva
a povinnosti pre mier vo svete.
Kiež moja účasť vedie k účasti mnohých.
*
Spanish translation by Lucía Bermúdez Carballo
Poet, Spain:
Soy un ser humano
soy un ser vivo con otros seres vivos.
Soy parte de la Naturaleza.
Estoy a favor del trabajo y la solidaridad.
Estoy en contra de la injusticia y la violencia.
Tengo derechos como ser humano,
y deberes para con la paz mundial.
Ojalá las contribuciones engendren otras contribuciones.
*
Swedish translation by Eugene Schoulgin
Novelist, PEN Int’l Vice-President, Norway:
Jag är en människa
Jag lever bland andra människor
Jag är en del av naturen
Jag stödjer arbete och solidaritet
Jag gillar inte orättvisor och vold
Jag har rättigheter som människa
och ansvar för världsfreden
Mitt engagenment läder till engagement
*
Original text in Turkish by TG:
İnsanım.
Başka canlılarla birlikte bir canım.
Doğanın parçasıyım.
Emek ve dayanışmadan yanayım.
Haksızlık ve şiddete karşıyım.
İnsan olarak haklarım,
dünya barışı için görevlerim var.
Katkılar katkılara yol açsın.
*
Uyghur translation by Kaiser ÖzHun
Author, Academic, Ex-President of Uyghur PEN
Xinjiang / Sweden.
Insan men.
Bashqa janliqlarbilen birlikte bir janmen.
Tebietning bir parchisi men.
Ish ve birlik uchun yanimen.
Heqsizlik ve shidetke qarshimen.
Insan bolushbilen heqqim,
Dunyaning tinchlighi uchun burchum var.
Hizmitim, hizmetlerge yolachsun .
