Magin_Edward-thesis

216
sight will be free, without life’s limitations. One may simply view the added
metaphorical imagery as an explication of the original image.
Overall, both Shushi and I were pleased with the end result in (351). The
translation can be said to be a true metapoem, remains close to the original, and in no
place does it stray enough to be considered an imitation. Perhaps a couple lines slightly
qualify for a “creative translation.” However, the use of a couple explications and an
idiom are certainly within the bounds of what a metapoet―as defined by Holmes (1988),
Boerger (1997, 2009) and others―is permitted to do when producing a metapoem.
6.2 Shushi’s version of Allah
For her version of Allah, shown in (352), Shushi (2012) chose to use the same
verse form that I had used for my more “literal” version: AAXA, BBXB, CCXC. Her
syllable structure for each quatrain is 12-12-11-12. As mentioned, in this verse form
Shushi prefers to reduce the number of syllables in the third line―the line free from
rhyme―by one, a common poetic device of Northern Kurdish poets. One particularly
nice feature about Shushi’s version is that she produced end rhymes with two syllables,
which provides a nicer reading than my version which rhymes only one syllable. I should
also mention that Shushi did not make her own version “from scratch,” but, having read
and provided feedback on my version, she created a more readable, better sounding
poem. Hence, Shushi’s version exhibits similar features of my version. She used an
“analogous form,” as discussed in § 2.2.4.1.2. In relation to Holmes’ “retention versus
modernization” model, she chose to historicize on the level of verse form and modernize
on linguistic level. Regarding the socio-cultural level, the subject matter did not provide
many features for historicizing or modernizing.
(352) Allah gives light in darkness,
Xwedê ruhnî-yê li_nav tarî-yê di-d-et
God light-EZ.M in.midst.of darkness-OBL.F IMPV-give.PRS-3SG
‘God gives light in the midst of darkness’
Allah gives rest in pain,
Xwedê aram-î li_nav jarî-yê di-d-et