In Translation

The poem “Daj Mi Wstążkę Błękitną” is shown in it’s original Polish with 3 English translations for comparison.

Table of Contents

    DAJ MI WSTĄŻKĘ BŁĘKITNĄ (Cyprian Norwid)

    Daj mi wstążkę błękitną — oddam ci ją

    Bez opóźnienia…

    Albo – daj mi cień twój z giętką twą szyją:

    — Nie! nie chcę cienia.

    Cień zmieni się, gdy ku mnie skiniesz ręką,

    Bo on nie kłamie!

    Nic od ciebie nie chcę, śliczna panienko,

    Usuwam ramię…

    Bywałem ja od Boga nagrodzonym,

    Rzeczą mniej wielką:

    Spadłym listkiem, do szyby przyklejonym,

    Deszczu kropelką.

    Give Me a Blue Ribbon… (Translation – Danuta Borchardt)

    Give me a blue ribbon – I’ll return it

    Without delay…

    Or give me the shadow of your supple neck:

    — No! Not the shadow, nay.

    The shadow will shudder, when you beckon me,

    For it doesn’t lie!

    I want nothing from you, young lady of charm,

    I withdraw my arm…

    God used to grant me

    Much smaller things:

    A fallen leaf stuck to a windowpane,

    A drop of rain.

    Translated from the Polish by Danuta Borchardt – POEMS – Cyprian Norwid.

    Used by permission from archipelago books

    Give Me That Sky-Blue Ribbon (Translation – Jerzy Peterkiewicz)

    Give me that sky-blue ribbon, you’ll get it back

    Entire, and undelayed…

    Or else give me the shadow of your neck:

    But no! I want no shade.

    A shade will change when your hand beckons me,

    For shadows do not sham.

    No, I want nothing from you, pretty lady.

    I take away my arm.

    God usually rewards with lesser things,

    Such as a drop of rain,

    A fallen leaf that obstinately clings,

    Stuck to the window-pane.

    Translated from the Polish by Jerzy Peterkiewicz – CYPRIAN NORWID Poems – Letters – Drawings
    (In collaboration with Christine Brooke-Rose and Burns Singer).

    Used by permission from Carcanet Press

    [Give me a blue ribbon…] (Translation – Adam Czerniawski)

    Give me a blue ribbon – I will hand it back

    Without delay…

    Or give me the shadow of your supple neck:

    -No! not the shadow.

    The shadow will change when you wave,

    It does not lie.

    Now there is nothing I desire, lovely maid,

    I take my arm away…

    God’s past rewards

    Were lesser things:

    A leaf stuck to a window pane,

    A drop of rain.

    Translated from the Polish by Adam Czerniawski – Cyprian Kamil Norwid – Selected Poems.

    Used by permission from Anvil Press Poetry