Saturday 29 March 2008

another kind of mathematics



Noi ştim că unu ori unu fac unu,
dar un inorog ori o pară
nu ştim cât face.
Ştim că cinci fără patru fac unu,
dar un nor fără o corabie
nu ştim cât face.
Ştim, noi ştim că opt
împărţit la opt fac unu,
dar un munte împărţit la o capră
nu ştim cât face.
Ştim că unu plus unu fac doi,
dar eu şi cu tine,
nu Ştim, vai, nu ştim cât facem.

Ah, dar o plapumă
înmulţită cu un iepure
face o roscovană, desigur,
o varză împărţită la un steag
fac un porc,
un cal fără un tramvai
face un înger,
o conopidă plus un ou,
face un astragal…

Numai tu şi cu mine
înmultiţi şi împărţiţi
adunaţi şi scăzuţi
rămânem aceiaşi…

Pieri din mintea mea!
Revino-mi în inimă!

Nichita Stănescu, Altă matematică


We know that one times one is one,
but an unicorn times a pear
have no idea what it is.
We know that five minus four is one
but a cloud minus a sailboat
have no idea what it is.
We know that eight
divided by eight is one,
but a mountain divided by a goat
have no idea what it is.
We know that one plus one is two,
but me and you, oh,
we have no idea what it is.

Oh, but a comforter
times a rabbit
is a red-headed one of course,
a cabbage divided by a flag
is a pig,
a horse minus a street-car
is an angel,
a cauliflower plus an egg
is an astragalus.

Only you and me
multiplied and divided
added and substracted
remain the same...

Vanish from my mind!
Come back in my heart!

(english translation by George Mustea)

5 comments:

  1. Je suis ravie de découvrir ton blog grâce à ton commentaire si gentil laissé sur le mien et heureuse d'avoir une lectrice roumaine. A mon tour, je me suis promenée chez toi et je dois dire que je suis complètement sous le charme, et même fascinée par ton univers et tes photos, ainsi que la qualité des textes choisis. J'écris en français car il me semble que le tien est absolument parfait. Je suis très intriguée.

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  2. peace for the eyes and peace for the mind...

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  3. do you know andre dalmas, r? do you like his books? i thought maybe you do and that would be just so nice.

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  4. lasourceauxbois: Merci beaucoup pour ta visite, je suis heureuse que mon petit monde t'ait autant plu. et heureuse de te lire en francais, la plupart de mes amis ici ecrivent en anglais... A bientot :-) ton nom est si joli, la source aux bois, fait beaucoup rever!

    aa: no, I'm sorry to say I don't know him, I have to look him up. I understand you like him, is that so?

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  5. yes like him and i should think you might like him too....it's sort of special and lovely writing...lovely creamy velveteen darkish but clear and has soul..

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