Klingon Translations of Terran Poetry

This page features my translations of poems (or fragments thereof) from various languages into Klingon, arranged alphabetically by source language. If you see a poem here, this means I like it (but if you don't, it doesn't mean I don't!). It also means that the poem wanted to be translated. Perhaps I thought it would be easy to translate it (and thus a natural thing to do), or difficult (and thus a challenging thing to do). More on this anon.

Some of the poems don't express Klingon sentiments and moods at all. Others do, but this is not why they were chosen. The poems are about Terran things -- this is why they are translations, not original Klingon poetry -- and if stabbing the Klingon reader by images and ideas familiar to him is an honourable goal, then so is instructing him about unfamiliar ones.

At present all translations are rhymed syllabic-accentual verse (with the original rhyme schemes in place), although I do have a mind to experiment with other types of versification in Klingon (such as alliterative or quantitative).

What is it that makes translating poetry into Klingon easy?

  • Klingon words are exceptionally short, which means that you can count on being able to fit the original meaning into the lines.
  • There are many rhymes, because there are few rhymes. That is, there are many large groups of rhyming words, because there are only 121 possible ways in which syllables can rhyme.
  • Compared to most other conlangs, Klingon is very rich in idioms, proverbs and quotable quotes that make for vivid, flowery poetic language.

    • And what is it that makes it difficult?

  • Klingon words are exceptionally short, which means that after the original meaning has been rendered, one may be at a loss for something to fill the rest of the line with.
  • There are few rhymes, because there are few (canonical) words. (This is also the reason for which some things aren't exactly easy to say, in prose or verse.)
  • The rigid (Adv)OVS word order implies that most lines end in a verb or subject noun phrase, so those are the things on which we have to rely almost entirely for rhyming.

    • From the Bulgarian

    lotlhwI' bom wej «Xajdushki pesni»: #3 (Pejo K Javorov)
    «Do' ghu', nuSo'mo' ngemvam 'IH, 
    beH tIq DInaD je, vaQmo' bIH; 
    malja' luta' ghotpu' 'ej chegh, 
    maloS -- tugh La'zo Suy wIlegh; 
    naDev Sorvo' pum por tISqu' -- 
    va, nom puv peng 'ej La'zo tu', 
       maj HoD yoH.»    		 «Xubava goro -- pusija, 
    De gidi pushka bojlija; 
    Vrøshtat se xora ot pazar -- 
    Mina-shte Lazo chifligar; 
    Ej buka listi otroni -- 
    Kurshum shte Laza dogoni, 
       Vojvodo.»
    «malja' luta' ghotpu' 'ej chegh, 
    maloS -- tugh La'zo Suy wIlegh; 
    naDev Sorvo' pum por tISqu' -- 
       maQmIgh 'oH! -- 
    va, nom puv peng 'ej La'zo tu', 
       'ej 'IghmoH. ... 
    'a nachwIj meQmoH qul -- jIbIt, 
    'a qa'wIj joy' Seng mul, jI'It, 
       wIj wey matlh.»    		 «Vrøshtat se xora ot pazar -- 
    Mina-shte Lazo chifligar; 
    Bre buka listi otroni -- 
       Prokoba! -- 
    Kurshum shte Laza dogoni 
       Za v groba. ... 
    A plamøk mi pali glavata, 
    Møka mi møchi dushata, 
       Druzhino.»
    «DaH 'eH, ghIntaqmey jej DIwoH, 
    'Ip pegh wInaD je, quvmo' 'oH; 
    Hoch QIHbogh La'zo Suy wIghov, 
    qalqu' 'ej ruv buSHa' net Sov; 
    nubelmoH roj, 'ach batlh wImaS, 
    'ej wIHDI' HI', vaj wIH bortaS, 
       maj HoD yoH.»    		 «Prøte za krushka trønushka, 
    De gidi kletva xajdushka; 
    Znaen e Lazo po sveta -- 
    Cheren izednik i v krøvta; 
    Ej zlo na zlija vøzdava 
    Junak, shto sheta za slava, 
       Vojvodo.»
    «Hoch QIHbogh La'zo Suy wIghov, 
    wIHqu' 'ej ruv buSHa' net Sov; 
    nubelmoH roj, 'ach batlh wImaS -- 
       wInejjaj! -- 
    'ej wIHDI' HI', vaj wIH bortaS 
       'ej jej taj. ... 
    'a Hu'tegh! pe'vIl wa' vIvup -- 
    parmaqqaywI' ... puqbe'Daj Qup, 
       wIj wey matlh.»    		 «Znaen e Lazo po sveta -- 
    Cheren izednik i v krøvta; 
    Bre zlo na zlija vøzdava -- 
       I neka! -- 
    Junak, shto sheta za slava 
       Naveka. ... 
    A zhal mi e, zhalost-umora, 
    Lazova shterka izgora, 
       Druzhino.»

    From the English

    Doch tu'bogh 'alIS SIla' veghta'DI' Through the Looking-Glass
    and What Alice Found There (Lewis Carroll)
    chemvaH qIj ghobtaH mughato',    ta' Degh luneHmo' chaH, 
    veng naQDaq Haw'taH mughato',    ghaH tlha'lI'mo' chemvaH. 
    chaHvaD 'Iwghargh nobta' yej    'ej qagh ror nobta' qum; 
    ro'qegh'Iwchab nobDI' QaS,    vengvo' chaH ghImmeH ghum.    		 The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown: 
    The Lion beat the Unicorn all round the town. 
    Some gave them white bread, some gave them brown: 
    Some gave them plum-cake & drummed them out of town.

    Qebmey joH (John Ronald Reuel Tolkien): Qebmey bom
     
    `Joe Hill'
    jInajtaHvIS Doch Huj vIlegh:
    nargh yIntaHbogh Joe Hill.
    jIjatlh: «Joe, wa'maH ben bIHegh!»
    jang ghaH: «not yIn vIchIl.»    		 I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night
    Alive as you and me.
    Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead!"
    "I never died," says he.
    «not *ngeng na' veng wanI' vIlIj»,
    jIjatlh, «ghoS pInpu''e',
    chotwI' Dupong, nom nIghIpDIj --»
    jang Joe: «jIHeghpu'be'.»    		 "In Salt Lake, Joe", I said to him
    (Him standing by my bed),
    "They framed you on a murder charge."
    Says Joe: "But I ain't dead!"
    «nIpum pInpu',» jIjatlh, «nIqIch,
    DaHoHta' HI'tuy negh.»
    «ghot HoHmeH vay', yapbe'bej HIch,»
    jang Joe Hill, «not jIHegh.»    		 "The copper bosses shot you, Joe,
    They killed you, Joe", says I.
    "Takes more than guns to kill a man",
    Says Joe, "I didn't die!"
    pa' QamtaH; tInmo', yIn rur ghaH,
    mon cha' mInDu'Daj, Hagh.
    «DaH Dat DIvI'mey chenmoHtaH
    Doch HoHlaHbe'bogh jagh.    		 And standing there as big as life
    And smiling with his eyes,
    Joe says: "What they could never kill
    Went on to organize."
    Heghbe' Joe Hill, qaja'chu': jub!
    yISov je 'ej yIpIl:
    DaH motlh vumwI'pu', tlhab luHub,
    'ej reH chaH boQ Joe Hill.»    		 "Joe Hill ain't dead," he says to me,
    "Joe Hill ain't never died,
    When working men defend their rights,
    Joe Hill is by their side."
    jInajtaHvIS Doch Huj vIlegh:
    nargh yIntaHbogh Joe Hill.
    jIjatlh: «Joe, wa'maH ben bIHegh!»
    jang ghaH: «not yIn vIchIl.»    		 I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night
    Alive as you and me.
    Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead!"
    "I never died," says he.

    From the French

    Hoch qo' roghvaH DIvI' L'Internationale
    peghuH, Hoch Sep mayHa'ghach vub law',
    petay', Hoch Segh luQIHlu'bogh!
    QeHmo' tIqDu'maj qoDDaq pub Daw',
    wa'leS jorDI', jor je logh.
    pe'vIl qo' ral wIbI'rupchu'jaj,
    toy'wI''a', peghuH! petay'!
    vaj pIghDaj DungDaq chenjaj 'u'maj,
    DaH pagh maH, Hoch maHjaj jay'!    		 Debout ! les damnés de la terre !
    Debout ! les forçats de la faim !
    La raison tonne en son cratère,
    C'est l'éruption de la fin.
    Du passé faisons table rase,
    Foule esclave, debout ! debout !
    Le monde va changer de base :
    Nous ne sommes rien, soyons tout !
       batlh may''a' Qav wIghobjaj,
       Qoy, be'nI'! Qoy, loDnI'!
       'u' choHmoHbej ghobmaj, --
       Hoch qo' roghvaH DIvI'.    		    C'est la lutte finale :
       Groupons-nous, et demain
       L'Internationale
       Sera le genre humain.
    pagh maS, pagh lIy je wuvlaH Sanmaj,
    nutoD pagh Qun, nuHub pagh qup;
    matoD'eghmeH betleH wIyanjaj
    'ej nItebHa' jaghpu' DIHup!
    nIHwI' ror je' 'e' mevmeH mIpmaj,
    woQ jeghmeH HI' qur, qaSDI' po,
    DIqIpqu'jaj 'ej nom DIqIpjaj,
    qul DIr wISopjaj, -- vIHtaH gho!    		 Il n'est pas de sauveurs suprêmes :
    Ni Dieu, ni César, ni tribun.
    Producteurs, sauvons-nous nous-mêmes,
    Decrétons le salut commun !
    Pour que le voleur rende gorge,
    Pour tirer l'esprit du cachot,
    Soufflons nous-mêmes notre forge,
    Battons le fer quand il est chaud !
    jup, 'u' Somrawmey maH, 'u' yab maH,
    quv Hutlhmo' pInmey, HoSghajbe';
    mavummo', yuQmeymaj DIDablaH,
    luSpet 'oH Qovpatlh buD Daq'e'.
    DaH chaHvaD Soj luDataH porghmaj,
    'ach reH taHbe'bej HI'tuy bov!
    'ej ngabDI' toQmey, rInDI' norgh jaj,
    vaj chalDaq wov 'e' mev pagh Hov.    		 Ouvriers, paysans, nous sommes
    Le grand parti des travailleurs ;
    La terre n'appartient qu'aux hommes,
    L'oisif ira loger ailleurs.
    Combien de nos chairs se repaissent !
    Mais si les corbeaux, les vautours,
    Un de ces matins disparaissent,
    Le soleil brillera toujours.
    gho raSDaq ba'taHbogh SuvwI'pu' Chevaliers de la table ronde
    gho raSDaq ba'taHbogh SuvwI'pu',
    QaQ'a' HIq? qab'a'? DaH HIja'!    		 Chevaliers de la table ronde,
    Dites-moi si le vin est bon.
       QaQ'a' HIq, luq, luq, luq,
       QaQ'a' HIq, Qo', Qo', Qo',
       QaQ'a' HIq? qab'a'? DaH HIja'.    		    Dites-moi, oui, oui, oui,
       Dites-moi, non, non, non,
       Dites-moi si le vin est bon.
    QaQchugh 'oH, 'IwwIj pubmoHchu'chugh,
    vagh bal'a' ... jav bal'a' vItlhutlh.    		 S'il est bon, s'il est agréable,
    J'en boirai cinq à six bouteilles.
    'ej jIHeghchugh, Satlhob, tumolmeH
    HIq QaQ polmeH wa' DIS yIwIv.    		 Si je meurs, je veux qu'on m'enterre
    Dans une cave où il y a du bon vin.
    DIS reDDaq Sumjaj cha' qamDu'wIj
    'ej HIq Hal bIngDaq 'oHjaj nuj.    		 Les deux pieds contre la muraille
    Et la bouche sous le robinet.
    'ej molwIj DungDaq ghItlhlu'chu'jaj:
    «naDev Qot tlhutlhwI'pu' voDleH».    		 Sur mon grave je veux qu'on inscrive:
    « Ici gît le roi des buveurs ».

    From the Georgian

    chemvaH DIr tuQwI' wepxist'q'aosani
    768 (777) vay' jupna' maH 'e' wItobmeH    wej mIwna'meyvam DIghaj:
    reH matay' wIneH, maHopDI'    nI'qu' DIS 'ej nI'qu' jaj;
    vIHtaHbogh bIQtIq rur nobmey,    batlh DInob 'ej batlh DIlaj;
    jup wIQaHnISDI', mamoDbej,    nItebHa' pagh Qob wIHaj.    		 sami aris moq'wrisagan    moq'wrobisa gamoCena:
    p'irwel, ndoma siaxlisa,    siSorisa wer-motmena,
    micema da aras Suri,    Cukebisa ar-moc'q'ena,
    gawlena da moxmareba,    misad rgebad welta rbena.
    1185 (1197) va, Huchvo' pagh lenHom HevlaH    Huch vuvbogh 'ej wuvbogh ghot.
    yInDaj Hoch jaj joy' yonHa'ghach,    pagh pem Quch 'ej pagh ram jot,
    not leS mInDaj, not yap mIpDaj,    reH puSqu' 'e' Harmo' Sot,
    tughDaj maghnIS, no'Daj lIjnIS,    quvDaj Qaw' 'ej qa'Daj chot.    		 wa, okro mista moq'wasta    arodes miscems lxenasa,
    dGed sik'wdilamdis sixarbe    Seakmnews k'bilta GrC'enasa:
    Sesdis da gasdis, ak'lia,    emdurwis et'lta rbenasa,
    k'wla aka sulsa daabams,    dauSlis aGmaprenasa.

    From the German

    wej bommey »Die drei Lieder« (Ludwig Uhland, 1807)
    yejquv vaSDaj ba'taH ta' ghaHbogh yaytIv: 
    «meSchuS chu'wI'pu' quv, bom 'IHqu' Sov 'Iv?» 
    vaj Duv wa' loD Qup 'ej SIbI' tamchoH retlhDaj: 
    meSchuS qeng poS ghopDaj, qogh nIHDaq HuS 'etlhDaj.    		 In der hohen Hall' saß König Sifrid: 
    Ihr Harfner, wer weiß mir das schönste Lied? 
    Und ein Jüngling trat aus der Schar behende, 
    Die Harf' in der Hand, das Schwert an der Lende:
    «wej bommey vISov; DaH DaQoymeH, yI'Ij! 
    bom wa'DIch Daqonta', 'ach ben law' DalIj: 
    "batlhHa' loDnI'wI' yoH DaDuQ 'ej DaHoHta'!" 
    jIja'qa': "batlhHa' ghaH DaDuQ 'ej DaHoHta'!"    		 Drei Lieder weiß ich: den ersten Sang, 
    Den hast du ja wohl vergessen schon lang: 
    »Meinen Bruder hast du meuchlings erstochen!« 
    Und aber: »Hast ihn meuchlings erstochen!«
    bom cha'DIch vIbomqang; DayajmeH, yIbuS! 
    Hurgh ram, 'oH vIqontaHvIS, jachtaH je SuS: 
    "DaH HeghmeH wa', jeymeH wa', pe'vIl maHay'nIS!" 
    jIja'qa': "DaH HeghmeH wa' pe'vIl maHay'nIS!"»    		 Das andre Lied, das hab' ich erdacht 
    In einer finstern, stürmischen Nacht: 
    »Mußt mit mir fechten auf Leben und Sterben!« 
    Und aber: »Mußt fechten auf Leben und Sterben!«
    vaj ravDaq meSchuS roQ 'ej 'etlhmey lel cha', 
    'ej Hay'choHDI', ghoghchaj QeHmo' chuS vaS'a'; 
    pay' yavDaq pum ta', ghopDajvo' pum je nuHDaj, 
    'ej HurghchoH mInDu'Daj, mev tIqDaj, mev tlhuHDaj.    		 Da lehnt' er die Harfe wohl an den Tisch, 
    Und sie zogen beide die Schwerter frisch 
    Und fochten so lange mit wildem Schalle, 
    Bis der König sank in der hohen Halle.
    «bom wejDIch vIbomrup; meSchuSwIj, HItoy'! 
    reH bomvam vIbomlaHtaH, pagh lup jIDoy': 
    "DaH 'IwDaj Doq ngengHomDaq QottaH yaytIv ta'!" 
    jIja'qa': "DaH 'IwDajDaq QottaH yaytIv ta'!"»    		 Nun sing' ich das dritte, das schönste Lied, 
    Das werd' ich nimmer zu singen müd': 
    »König Sifrid liegt in seinem roten Blute!« 
    Und aber: »Liegt in seinem roten Blute!«

    From the Italian

    ghe''or Inferno 3:1--9 (Dante Alighieri)
    mujuSchugh vay', Do'Ha'ghach vengDaq ghoS; 
    mujuSchugh vay', mevbe'bogh 'oy'vaD Duv; 
    mujuSchugh vay', ghaH qIH pIgh QIH je yoS.    		 Per me si va ne la città dolente, 
    per me si va ne l'etterno dolore, 
    per me si va tra la perduta gente.
    muchenmoHbogh jonwI''a' vangmoH ruv; 
    mulIng HoSna' nIvqu''e' wuvbogh 'u', 
    mulIng Sov'a', mulIng je parmaq quv.    		 Giustizia mosse il mio alto fattore: 
    fecemi la divina podestate, 
    la somma sapienza e 'l primo amore.
    jIchenDI', qo'Daq wej chenta' Hap ru', 
    Hap jub neH tu'lu', reH jItaH je jIH; 
    Su'elbogh tlhIH, Sutul 'e' yImevchu'.    		 Dinanzi a me non fuor cose create 
    se non etterne, e io etterno duro. 
    Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate.

    From the Persian

    *loStlheghmey roba`eyat (Omar Khayyam)
    tIq rIQDaq baHDI' vor wa' pu', parmaq 'oH pu'vam'e', 
    wa' Qu'Daq jeSmeH chenta' 'u', parmaq 'oH Qu'vam'e'. 
    bIbepmo' chaq Qogh rIQ Darur; chaq bepDaq bIbepbe'; 
    parmaq 'oHbe'bej ghu'vetlh'e', parmaq 'oH ghu'vam'e'.    		 xor$id-e sepehr-e pizæwali `æ$q æst, 
    mor@-e cæmæn-e xojæstefali `æ$q æst. 
    æ$q an næbud ke hæmco bolbol nali, 
    hær gæh ke bemiri-yo nænali, `æ$q æst.
    (This way for the original in Arabic script and translations into Quenya and Russian.)
    Hoch jaj nuvpu' quv val yInej, DatlhejmeH reH yImoD; 
    qoHpu' yIqeH, chaHvo' yIHaw' 'ej lujDI' not tItoD. 
    chaq 'etlIjDaq tar jab ghot val, vaj tarvam'e' yItlhutlh; 
    chaq ghoplIjDaq Hergh nob nuv QIp, vaj Herghvam'e' yIwoD.    		 ba mærdom-e pakbaz-o `aqel amiz, 
    æz naæhlan hæzar færsæng goriz. 
    gær zæhr dehæd tora xorædmænd, benu$, 
    w-ær nu$ dehæd ze dæst naæhl, beriz.
    cha' chut potlh law' Hoch Sov potlh puS; yIqIm 'ej bIH tIyaj, 
    DalIjchugh vaj Hoch may' Daluj, Daqawchugh yay Dabaj: 
    Hoch Doch Datuvbogh yISopQo', bIghungtaH 'e' yImaS; 
    Hoch ghot DaqIHbogh Datlhejpa' bImobtaH 'e' yIlaj.    		 do ciz ke hæst maye-ye danai 
    behtær ze hæme hædis-e naguyai: 
    æz xordæn-e hær ce hæst naxordæn beh 
    w-æz sohbæt-e hær ce hæst beh tanhai.

    From the Russian

    *** (Sergej Esenin, 1924)
    povam qaS wanI'vam. lojmo' ngatwIj 
    wa' mechwI' vIghoSDI', ghaH vItlhob: 
    «La'lavaD I love you ja'meH jatwIj 
    nuq 'oH Persian mu''e'? qeS HInob!»    		 Ja sprosil segodnja u menjaly, 
    Chto daët za poltumana po rublju: 
    Kak skazat' mne dlja prekrasnoj Laly 
    Po-persidski nezhnoe «ljublju»?
    jItungHa''egh 'ej mechwI' vIyu'qa', 
    parmaqmo' leSbe'mo' qa'wIj nong: 
    «La'la 'IHmo' porghwIj botlhDaq tlhu' qa', 
    DaH HISovmoH, kissvaD nuq vIpong?»    		 Ja sprosil segodnja u menjaly
    Legche vetra, tishe Vanskix struj, 
    Kak nazvat' mne dlja prekrasnoj Laly 
    Slovo laskovoe «poceluj»?
    tIqwIjDaq «yIjot! yItam!» vIra'meH 
    HoS vIHutlhba'mo', mechwI' vIyu': 
    «La'la 'IHvaD You are mine vIja'meH 
    nuqDaq mu' vIlo'nISbogh vItu'?»    		 I eshchë sprosil ja u menjaly, 
    V serdce robost' glubzhe pritaja, 
    Kak skazat' mne dlja prekrasnoj Laly, 
    Kak skazat' ej, chto ona «moja»?
    jIHvaD jang mechwI'vetlh, ngat munobDI': 
    «mu'mey jatlhbogh jat poQbe' parmaq; 
    parmaqmo' bIvInglaH neH, bImobDI', 
    meQtaHvIS mInDu', parmaq lumaq.    		 I otvetil mne menjala kratko: 
    O ljubvi v slovax ne govorjat, 
    O ljubvi vzdyxajut lish' ukradkoj, 
    Da glaza, kak jaxonty, gorjat.
    pong ghajbe' kiss, 'oHvaD pagh pong 'u'maj, 
    molmeyDaq Doch ghItlhlu'bogh 'oHbe'. 
    ngab Hol, pongDaj jatlhtaHvIS wuSDu'maj, 
    QoylaHmeH, wuSDu'Daj lo' je be'.    		 Poceluj nazvan'ja ne imeet, 
    Poceluj ne nadpis' na grobax. 
    Krasnoj rozoj pocelui vejut, 
    Lepestkami taja na gubax.
    len nejbe' tIq. ngoj 'ej pe'vIl tlhu' neH. 
    mu'mey Danejbe'nIS, not Datu': 
    You are mine luja'laHchu' ghopDu' neH, -- 
    Ha'quj luQeyHa'moHbogh ghopDu'.»    		 Ot ljubvi ne trebujut poruki, 
    S neju znajut radost' i bedu. 
    «Ty -- moja» skazat' lish' mogut ruki, 
    Chto sryvali chërnuju chadru.
    *** (Konstantin Simonov, 1971)
    Qugh yajchu', teSDaj SIch luSpet ghogh,
    'ach bo'DaghHom neH lo' toDSaH.
    wej letchu'bogh chuch langDaq qetbogh
    ghot rur ghaH.    		 Preumen'shajushchij bedu,
    Ch'ju tjazhest' sam on ponimaet,
    Po chut' sxvativshemusja l'du
    Begushchego napominaet.
    poSvo' nIHvo' je mu'mey nIH ghaH,
    HIja', ghobe' jatlhbe'meH Dugh. ...
    bIQ ngaS HIvje'Daj. bIngDaq vIHtaH
    qun
      bIQ
        'ugh.    		 Skol'zit, podyskivaja slovo,
    Chtob ne skazat' ni «net», ni «da». ...
    A tam, vnizu, techët surovo
    Istorii
      tjazhëlaja
        voda. 

    Created and maintained by Ivan A Derzhanski.

    Last modified: 1 September 1999.