Kenst Gornicht Helpen
- idiomatic Yiddish Translation of Hopkins Poem
Kenst gornicht helpfn, a klog iz mir,
Tsoris und gehakte tsoris, wilde kvetschen
Triester, wu, wu ist zeine treisten?
Mutter auf uns, wu ist zeine rachmones?
Meine schries heibn, der ganze schpeel, kneitched un iker,
Oy ve, ve auf der velt; farzeitik hamer aroismeidn unt sing -
Oib triesten, oib oifhern. Zorn schried, shtup mer nicht
A sof! A sof! Hoc mer nicht in karnik.
Feh af mein kopt, ve loch in kopf; wilde feldz
Fafallen, Gezuter, gut tsedreyt,
As der schmeis bist nicht auf dine toches, der sorgan nicht
Tut mer ve, oysgeshplit. Do! Kreechn,
Ebechl, unterern triest derlmyn toomel: ale
lieb toit oislosn un jeder tag ist gehagart mit scholft.
'And Hopkins's no Worst. There is none'
David Axelrod's Idiomatic Yiddish back to English
Don't even think anything can be done to help things. Just beat on me.
Troubles, major trouble, wild whining.
Comforter, where where si your comfort?
Mother of us all, where is your pity?
My cries heave, the whole big deal. All pinched up.
Woe, woe on the world. Ancient hammer let lose and sing -
Then quiet, then just Shhh. Misery crise, don't stick it to me.
Enough already. Don't hit me with a pot.
Phooey on my head. I ned this like a hole in the head; wild cliffs,
Fallen, totally, completely mixed up.
If the smack isn't on your ass, you don't have any ity.
It hurts me. I'm plotzed out. Here! Creep,
You pitiful fool, under comfort there's chaos: all
Life comes to death and each day drops dead with sleep. |