Translating poetry to ancient greek: What We Haven't Done

my new secret nerdy hobby- translating poetry to Ancient Greek. This is my translation of "What We Haven't Done", however, many changes have been undergone to write this.

Many changes have been undergone to translate this poem. It is only about half way translated so far (up until the fourth stanza) but I thought it would be cool to share a creation of my two favorite things- Ancient Greece and Poetry :)

The English translation-

"That of which i had not done"

I had listened to the cry of wolves

more then I had listened to the song of birds,

as their music sent me dancing in my dreams.

I had watched the sun set

more then I had watched it rise,

raining re, painting peace upon the sky.

I had watched nature's fire extinguish,

but I had never watched it sparkle.

I had watched waves collapse,

but I had never watched them rise.

I had never watched a bird fly,

but I had watched leaves fall.

I had loved the lips of death,

but rejected the lips of life.

I closed my eyes,

then my mind,

and then my heart.

I was sailing in the seas of disease,

to an isolated island of death,

but then nature sent a storm that broke my boat,

making me swim back to her shores.

My feet stepped onto the sand,

and I smiled from the soothing feel.

The sight of the endless sea made my blood run,

the light that shone from the sky warmed my shivering body,

the beauty of blossoms birthed a new me.

I could not believe that I had almost left this,

for grey clouds, hills of dirt, and naked branches.

I fell onto my knees and hugged the world,

and promised myself that I would never let go.

The "In progress" Ancient Greek translation-

ekekon mallon tous lukous dakreuin pros to phos to tes seleves 

e tote ekekn tous ornithas adein 

ws ten mousikev auton pempo ev ta ema enurnia or mon orchounta.

eorake mallon ton elion duein tote 

norake auton anatellein sdographoun ton ouranon.

eorake to pur to tes oikoumenes arosbennumi

alla ou eorake auton stilbein

eorake ta kumata sumpiptein

alla ou eorake auta evistenai.

ou eorake ornis epetenai

alla eorake ta phulla kata piptein

peiphileka ta chila ta tou thanatou 

alla apethesa ta philema ta tou biou.

ekeleia tous emes ophalmous kai ten emes kardian,

esdaon to emes bios en ton skoteinon 

mechri eleutheroumen upo ten phuseos.

Reviews

[MuSe Ampoule]

This is very good, in the original english. It shines a light nicely on what people don't actively notice. They see it, but it doesn't move them, though it may be no less spectacular "I had watched waves collapse,
but I had never watched them rise."

Constructing works in other languages is a really fun exercise because it makes you re-evaluate how you think about what you're saying; where verbs and subjects are placed can completely change the feel of a thought...it helps to get in the mind of something other than yourself, something beyond the norm.

It's very good. When you have it translated, might I suggest that you have an image of the Greek characters (letters) also? It would be neat to have it there too.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for the translation. To be able to read in many languages would open the door to so many excellent books and poetry. The poem is amazing. Thank you.
Coyote

[Calypso]

This was very interesting. Are you learning Greek? I know some Greek roots but I could never learn the language. You're smart! Very good job.
I wish you the best of luck and Merry Christmas.

[Mauricio Montoya]

We learn from our past, hopefully will grow from it.
Thank you for sharing.

[Cafe Reader]

Super cool!

[Drako]

we have something in common, it seems, a love for ancient greece. another wonderful work

[Machiavelli]

How'd you find out about this it's interresting it's like learning about a new culture thank you for sharing this

[Wondering Mind]

the Greek part is all Greek to me, but from the feel of the English part, it reads beautifully

[Misty Blue Eyes]

WOW.. i dont know Greek but thats really neat

[SpokenWord]

Very nice poem I must say, I like all the comparisons and what they made me think about. The things we notice and pay attention and the things we let slip by without noticing can make a difference on how we view this world. I wish I knew Greek!