The Word Cutter
My laughter laughs with me
laughing joyfully
I don't have any thoughts in my head today
they haven't woken up yet
I think it's morning
dawn is breaking
And that's precisely the reason
for the heart to be calm
and why this sweet beat
resonates
I laugh to myself... for I know
I'm not used to this smile
that strolls through a poem and a dance
laughing with me... exciting me like a wife with her husband
like lovers forever
I'm not used to this joyfulness and passion
that leads me day and night
to sing along with the chorus
... to follow the pleasures of the world
So I decided...
to cut off the words of joy and belief
of love or religion
words that would temper the slave's revenge
words that would win the war with hearts within
as well as the wars within borders
My only word is suffering
So I prefer the old way...
thoughts not written
The literal translation of this poem was made by Katriina Ranne
The final translated version of the poem is by The Poetry Translation Workshop
Notes
A poem that could only have been written by a poet who has dedicated his life to political activity, 'The Word Cutter' gives a fascinating insight to the dilemma faced by those intent on political change who feel challenged or uneasy at the deleterious effects they worry that joy can have on the serious endeavour of political struggle. Whether the conflict articulated in 'The Word Cutter' is something the poet himself has struggled with, or whether he's commenting (perhaps with a degree of irony?) on what he's witnessed others experiencing, the poem (of course) cannot reveal....
© Poetry Translation Centre 2004-2013
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