Somewhere… a light mist the sleepy meadow shrouds,

Somewhere… the wind chases pure white frizzy clouds,

Somewhere… gently tolls a melancholy bell,

Somewhere… a clear voice in lush melody swell,

Somewhere… over the clouds that are soft, fleecy,

Somewhere… above the dark velvet of the sea

the sky winks with millions of starry eyes,

Somewhere… up the air a sweet fragrance arise,

Somewhere… softly, tenderly trembles the air…

Spring… sweet new virgin spring awakens… Somewhere…

© P. J. Oszmann  (1953 in Hungarian. Translation 2004.)

(Originally written as an allegorical verse, expressing yearning for freedom from tyranny.)

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To give an idea about the difficulty of translating a poem, whilst trying to preserve the imagery as well as the style, the form and turn of phrase, I enclose the original with two working translations below which preceded the verse above.

The original

Valahol… Lágy szėl leng az alvo táj felett

Valahol… a szellö üz bodros felleget

Valahol… halkan kong egy mėlabús harang

Valahol… lágyan zeng egy ėdes tiszta hang

Valahol… selymes felhöfoszlányok között

Valahol… a tengernek bársonya fölött

Száz kis csillag szemėvel hunyorgat az ėg

Valahol… lágy illattal tellik meg a lėg

Valahol… a szellö ugy remeg, ugy dalol…

Tavasz…ėdes uj tavasz ėbred… valahol…

The first word-by-word translation

Somewhere… soft wind floats above the sleepy landscape

Somewhere…a breeze chases frizzy clouds

Somewhere… quietly rings a melancholy bell

Somewhere… softly sings a sweet clear voice

Somewhere… amongst silky, fleecy clouds

Somewhere… above the velvet of the sea

with hundreds of little starry eyes winks the sky

Somewhere… with soft fragrances the air fills

Somewhere… a breeze so trembles, so sings

Spring… sweet new spring awakens… Somewhere…

The first translation adjusted for equal number of syllables for each line

Somewhere… above sleepy meadows soft breeze floats

Somewhere… the wind chases pure white frizzy clouds

Somewhere… a melancholy bell gently tolls

Somewhere… a clear angelic voice softly sings

Somewhere… amongst the soft silky, fleecy clouds

Somewhere… above the dark velvet of the sea

the sky winks with millions of starry eyes.

Somewhere… the air fills up with soft fragrances

Somewhere… how the air current trembles and sings

Spring… sweet, new, virgin spring awakens… Somewhere…