If Only Modernity Was Of the Breast

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If Only Modernity Was Of the Breast
by Multiple Personality Disorder
25-Jan-2012
 

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گر مدرنیته به پستان است
If Only Modernity Was Of the Breast


عِرقِ ملّی را چه کردش آن یکی پستانِ کج؟
کج نگو، معوج نگو بآن حبّهِ نارفته حج
What has it done to the national pride, that lone crooked breast!
Don’t call it crooked!  Don’t call it grape, not gone to Hajj yet!

چون بدیدند آن یکی گردوی سینه بی‌حجاب
وانگهی آزاده گشتند شیعیانِ اندر نقاب
When they saw the lone unveiled walnut of the chest,
then they were liberated, the Shiites in masks

آن نوکِ تیزش کلیدِ قفلهای صد جهان
یک اوین و این تبار ساده‌ لوحان در فغان
Its sharp nipple, key to hundred worlds’ lucks
One Evin, and this simple tribe thirsty in whine

چون که با عکسش تنِ زندانیان آزاد شد
خطهِ ایران به یُمن همتِ یک آگهی آباد شد
Because with her picture prisoners’ bodies were freed,
Iran’s land thrived by its gracious will of the lone announcement!

آن همه میلیون و میلیون ها به بندِ رهبری
پس خلاص آمد ز پستانِ کریهِ عنتری
All the millions and the millions in bonds by the Leader,
so were released by the unsightly beast’s breast!

شورت و کرست را بباید تا بیاندازیم دور
هرچه تابو، بشکنیمش؛ جملگی‌مان لخت و عور
Shorts and corsets must be thrown away!
All taboos, break them; all of us naked and bare!

چون که روشنفکری و تنویر آمد در دیارِ کوچکان
اولین گامِ رهایی شد برهنه کردنِ این کون و کان
When intellect and enlightenment came to the land of the little,
the first step of liberation became laying bare this buttock and that

نیست حلاجی که برخیزد بگوید چیستید؟
ای شما آشفته حالان در لباس، کیستید؟
There is no analyzer to stand up and say, what are you?!
Heigh!  You!  The clothed disturbed ones, who are you?!

گر یکی پستان شود رهبر به جمعِ احمقان
این ولایت بر شما میمون، و باقی دلقکان
If the lone breast becomes the leader of the stupid group,
this land shall be welcomed to you, and the rest of the clowns

آن هنرپیشهِ ننرِ از کاسه آشی داغتر
خود که گوید "من سیاسی نیستم"، ای مرد خر
That fractious actress, hotter than a bowl of soup,
said herself, “I am not political.”  Heigh!  Stupid man!

گویدش "من شاه ماهی" بوده‌ام، "دختِ وطن"
چون بیابد مزد و شهرت، بسترد آن پیرهن!
Says, “I was the big fish”, “The daughter of the homeland”
Found riches and fame, dispelled that shirt

ای تو روزی با هخا، روز دگر با موسوی
بر دهان، زهرا و زینب؛ در سرت هم جنده‌گانِ شوروی
Heigh!  You are with Hakha one day, another day with Mousavi
On your mouth, Zahra and Zaynab, in your mind Russian whores

گر مدرنیته به پستان و کس و کیر است و ران
پس گوریل آمد به جمعِ این شما آزادگان
If modernity is by breast, vagina, penis, or thigh,
then gorilla came to your liberated group

ملتی کز بیضه‌ای جوجه بیابد قدِ فیل
بایدش این دولت و این خفت و این دسته بیل
A nation that finds in an egg a chick the size of an elephant,
deserves this government, this degradation, and this shovel handle

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Original poem in Farsi by Pestandar, posted here >>>

Blog Image courtesy of Red Wine >>>

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Multiple Personality Disorder

Thank you Red Wine for the Blog Image

by Multiple Personality Disorder on

I really appreciate it.

 


Multiple Personality Disorder

در موردِ «کریه» و «عنتر»

Multiple Personality Disorder


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سه تا لغتِ اولی که برای «کریه» آمده است اینها هستند

«unsightly»، «obscene"، «ugly»

از آنجائی که شعر در موردِ یک عکس است، و آنچه که مردم به آن نگاه می‌کنند، و آنچه که آنها می‌بینند، و دیگر چیزها که به دیدن مربوط می‌شود، من گزینهِ «unsightly» را انتخاب کردم

این گزینه‌ها بستگی به ذوق و میلِ فرد دارد، و چطور با بقیهِ ترجمهِ شعر ترکیب می‌شوند  

بنظر من از نظر کریه بودن «obscene» از همه قوی‌تر و «unsightly» از همه ظعیف‌تر است

***

«عنتر» به معنی «monkey» نیست

«monkey» یعنی «میمون», یا «بوزینه»

«عنتر» یعنی «anthropoid» ،«manlike ape» ،«beast»

در «Merriam-Webster Dictionary» آمده است

«anthropoid» بمعنی «a person resembling an ape»

بنابراین من «عنتر» را «beast» ترجمه کردم


Multiple Personality Disorder

Disclaimer is not needed as far as it concerns me

by Multiple Personality Disorder on

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Dear Divaneh,

In your first comment there is a question.  It is in the first paragraph, in the first sentence.  Here it is, "Dear MPD, I don't know you translated this poem because you approved of it or because you wanted to let everyone know that what backwardness and dogma we have to deal with in our society?"  I don't where the question starts, but it is a question, because it has a question mark at the end of it, and it is addressed to me, so I tried to answer it.  But regardless, we are friends, and as far as I am concerned, the disclaimer was not needed for my sake, although I use disclaimers myself, a lot.

I am still working on your concerns about the rest of the questionable translations.  The problem is how to use English and Farsi texts in the same comment, yet still format it in a way to keep it readable.

Thank you,


Faramarz

مدرنیته یا شهوت!

Faramarz


 

فکر لختی یا  لختیه  فکر

مدرنیته یا شهوت

غرق شده در حسادت

بی پلاس و عشق قدرت

 

"غیرت سیب زمینی

توسعه سبک چینی

دموکراسی دینی

پیتزای قورمه سبزی"


Multiple Personality Disorder

بیضه و لغت‌نامه دهخدا

Multiple Personality Disorder


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بیضه . [ ب َ / ب ِ ض َ / ض ِ ] (از ع ، اِ) مأخوذ از بیضة تازی بمعنی خاگ و خایه ٔ حیوانات . (ناظم الاطباء). و با لفظ افکندن وانداختن و بر سنگ زدن و دادن و نهادن و کشیدن مستعمل است . (آنندراج ). هر یک از دو غده ای که در حیوان نرهست و کار آنها تولید نطفه و ترشح هورمونهای نری است مانند تستوسترون و غیره . چون حرارت داخلی عادی بدن برای بیضه ها مناسب نیست نزد عموم پستانداران بیرون حفره ٔ عمومی بدن و در زیر شکم قرار دارد. (دائرة المعارف فارسی ). || تخم پرندگان عموماً و مرغ خانگی خصوصاً. تخم مرغ . (ناظم الاطباء)

اگر چه شاعر به راحتی می‌توانست بگوید، «ملتی کز تخمِ مرغی، جوجه بیابد قدِ فیل»، اما او از کلمهِ «بیضه» استفاده کرد.  چرا؟

ولی در این مورد با شما موافق هستم.  بعد عوضش می‌کنم.

ممنون.


divaneh

Disclaimer

by divaneh on

Dear MPD, my comment was not addressed to you and the "You" in there is a general address. I made it clear at the very start of the comment that I did not know which side you stood with regards to this issue.


Multiple Personality Disorder

Divaneh,

by Multiple Personality Disorder on

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Divaneh,


In your comment there is a question for me, I’ll replay to that question in a second, but first I agree with all the issues you have raised in your comment, and I suggest to everyone to watch Ali Akbar Mahdi’s views about this issue.  He can explain it better than I can.  He has a PhD, I don’t.

//iranian.com/main/2012/jan/sociological-...

Now to answer your question, as I previously commented in the original poem; technically speaking, I find the poem to be a great one, but its message to be a disturbing one.  And, I read tens of poems and once in a while one of them tickles my fancy and I decide to translate it.  I am not bound by ideological views, I have no dogma, I am not pushing an agenda.  In this capacity, I am not the thinker, the creator, the writer; I am just a translator.  I take no side as a translator.

Over the last couple of year I have translated poems as benign as a few verses about winter cold, and as controversial as this poem, but the poem has to trigger that thing within me, or else it doesn't get done.


I reply to the part of your comment about the two points you raised about the translation at a later time.


Multiple Personality Disorder

فغان و لغت‌نام دهخدا

Multiple Personality Disorder


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لغت‌نام دهخدا:

فغان . [ف َ ] (صوت ) ۞ افغان. (فرهنگ فارسی معین). کلمه ٔ تأسف ، یعنی آه ، دریغا، دردا. (ناظم الاطباء). ای فریاد. ای وای . امان.

افغان . [ اَ ] (اِ) فریاد. (میرزاابراهیم). فریاد و زاری. (آنندراج) (انجمن آرای ناصری) (مجمعالفرس) (برهان) (شعوری). فریاد. زاری. فغان. (ناظم الاطباء). فریاد. فغان. (شرفنامه ٔمنیری ). ناله. (غیاث اللغات ). فریاد و غوغا. (مؤید). فریادی از دردی یا مصیبتی. (شاید مرکب است از (اَ) حرف ندا و فغان جمع فغ، یعنی ای خدایان. مانند: آمین عربی که خواندن آمن خدای مصریان است). (یادداشت مؤلف). زاری . ناله. (فرهنگ فارسی معین)

بنظر می‌رسه که «فغان» بیشتر به «whine» نزدیک است تا به «shout»

بنظر می‌رسه که «افغان» بیشتر به «shout» نزدیک است تا به «whine»

بهر جهت، در شعر اینطور بنظر می‌رسه که تبارِ ساده داره «whine» می‌کنه، نه اینکه داره «shout» می‌کشه.

تفاوت این دو یک موضوعِ نظری‌ست.  تا ببینیم خودِ شاعر منظورش چی بوده.

خیلی ممنون از خواندن و کامنت شما.


divaneh

A poem? celebrating falsehood

by divaneh on

Dear MPD, I don't know you translated this poem because you approved of it or because you wanted to let everyone know that what backwardness and dogma we have to deal with in our society? This so called poem is false on many grounds.

It accuses people of making a big deal about this photo shoot. Now if you check all the articles, poems, caricatures and analysis that appeared in this website, you will see that most of them were by those who were against her action. First making a hoo haa and then blaming others for it, seems like IRI tactics. I don't blame them because they were made uncomfortable with the challenge to their traditions.

Modernity is not about nudity. Those who support Golshifteh , support Choice and not Nudity. In a modern society she should be able to do this without this much publicity. Please also bear in mind that nudity is not a new concept and human body was symbolised for its beauty by early cultures before religions chained the society with their dogmatic rules. Posing nude or dressing sexy is only reclaiming that freedom.

Women movement is only one faction of the Iranian opposition. To link this to political prisoners you need the blurred view of a poetic fossil. Her action, whether she intended or not, is seen by many as defiance and rejection of the imposed Hejab on women in Iran. It however only relates to the demands of the women movement and not the demands by labour and student unions, press, social groups, or minorities. It's not all and nobody has claimed that it is all. It is only those on the IRI side who have made such claims.

With regards to this translation:

The more accurate translation for what you have translated as "unsightly beast’s breast" is "ugly breast of a monkey".

In the last verse, Beize means egg and not testicle.

For those who cannot read Persian:

If you find some verse meaningless please do not blame it on MPD's translation skills, they were meaningless in Persian too.


Abarmard

فغان

Abarmard


فغان یعنی فریاد، داد نه نق

گویاترم ز بلبل اما ز رشک عام مهرست بر دهانم و افغانم آرزوست


Multiple Personality Disorder

Great point, Mash Ghase

by Multiple Personality Disorder on

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I am glad you liked the translation.

Regarding “jendeh-gaaneh shoravey”, although technically I agree with you, and a direct, literal, word-for-word, or "verbum pro verbo" translation, would result in “Soviet whores”, however in English language the use of “Russian whore” far exceeds that of “Soviet whore”.  This is the way it was back then when there was a Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and it is true now.  A quick Google Search also reveals the same fact:

“Soviet whores”=400 results.
“Russian whores”=10,600,000 results
“Soviet whore”=4,000 results.
“Russian whore”=681,000 results

Also in Iran, the whores from the north of the border are referred to as “jendeh’hayeh roosi”, rather than “jendeh’hayeh shoravey”.

Additionally, the poet is using “shoravey” to keep the rhyme the same as with “Mousavi”, whereas in the English translation this is not necessary anymore.

I believe, for now I am going to keep the “Russian whores”, unless I hear otherwise from the poet.

Thank you, Mash Ghasem, for reading this translation and commenting. 


Mash Ghasem

You! The clothed disturbed ones, who are you?!

by Mash Ghasem on

Great translation, with a minor suggestion, if I may.

Instead of Russian whores it should read Soviet whores, (Shoravy, nah Rosieh).

I still read it as a brilliant dark-humor on all this "tempest in a tea cup" affair.

Or you could also call it "Another Day on IC." You and a few others recognized who wrote this. Khasteh nabashi.


Mehrban

You did not have to make yourself clear about minimal

by Mehrban on

It was very clear what you were referring too.  Too bad.  But you are not alone in your focus.  


yolanda

...........

by yolanda on

Good point, MPD! Apparently other women don't want to break the "taboo"! Only Farahani wanted to break the taboo! :O)

Be very honest with you, if people in my profession act like Farahani, they can get fired!

I am running out of gas, I will be back tomorrow to read the translations!

Thanks,

 


Multiple Personality Disorder

I was just watching this video

by Multiple Personality Disorder on

... , you know, to do research to figure out what's going on, the video is posted here

//iranian.com/main/2012/jan/golshifteh-faraha...

and I noticed none of the women in that video exposes her bare breast, except for Golshifeh!  What's going on here?  Didn't the other ones have "A" message to send out?

O yeah, and minimal in other things too.

Ok, it's time for me to post a disclaimer before I get attacked by the morality police.

Disclaimer:  Although my education is above high school, I still sometimes behave as I only have just a high school diploma, but this in no way means that I am a male chauvinist or a sexist, and I don't know anyone in my family or circle of friends who is a male chauvinist or a sexist.

 


Mehrban

Minimal indeed - minimal as in efficient

by Mehrban on

As an antithesis to the ponderous, circular, never ending, verbose, voluminous and generally ineffectual Iranian political discourse.


Multiple Personality Disorder

You are right about minimal

by Multiple Personality Disorder on

... but I was interested to know, could anyone please, post anything she said directly about why she bared it nude.  Please have it in quotation marks, directly out of her mouth, about this matter only.  Thank you.  I intend to get to the bottom of this. [copy and paste from my previous comment elsewhere, well you know where, I just didn't feel like re-typing the whole thing again, so I copy-and-pasted it here, to save time and energy, since I was exhausted translating the poem above]


Mehrban

The fascination goes on :)

by Mehrban on

The more they try to denegarde it the more they betray how much it has unnerved them.  

And all this in just one elegant, minimal gesture.