How many Mongolian poets do you know? Have you heard about Mongolian renowned poet Yavuukhulan Begz and his famous poem “The Gobi”?
It is my great honour and privilege to translate and make Mr. Yavuukhulan’s famous poem “The Gobi” available in English for Discover Mongolia blog viewers. Mr. Yavuukhulan was one of the most famous contemporary poets of Mongolia. He was born in 1929, was educated both in Mongolia and Russia; and hence, wrote his poems and novels both in Mongolian and Russian. Some of his most famous works include poems like “The Gobi”, “Where was I born?”, plus several well-known books. He was bestowed with “Mongolian State Award” in 1964, among other recognitions and awards for his remarkable achievements and respected works. To me, his works, particularly his poems, portray Mongolia, its culture, landscape and people, so realistically, yet so sumptuously that you cannot get bored of reading his poems. One of such splendid poems of himself, on Mongolia, is “The Gobi” without a doubt. Although the poem was written in 1964, astoundingly, every wording still remains accurate. I have tried my best to relay his messages as clear as I can, yet, I would not be surprised if you could come up with better wording for some of the parts.
[Yavuukhulan] Now, please enjoy Mr.Yavuukhulan’s poem “The Gobi” and please let me know if you would like to get familiar with more poems by Mr.Yavuukhulan or other Mongolian poets, by commenting below.
“The Gobi”
|
Oh gobi, my gobi You are, sometimes, burning like a Melting pot Your grasshoppers and crickets are chirping like Frying grain
Instead, Its rivers have been sucked and soaked up And now, It is a land of screes Oh gobi, my gobi. Once upon a time, though, On this vast land, Pure rivers were flowing, wide Plants and flowers were growing, in variety Forests and lawns embraced Full of wild animals Forming such a wonder land that cannot be Found elsewhere on our planet
Said wonders of the gobi, except its camels From the above, From the bottom, Sandy lands have Soaked them up. Oh gobi, my gobi.
Gobi sand dunes are like mighty waves of that sea Therefore, gobi sometimes, is stormy from The sky to the ground Then, suddenly, is Tranquil all over again. Yet, oh gobi, my gobi You contain very vast land -- Existing as Endless camel caravan under the moon, Occupying enormous fields -- Owning echoes and legends Such echoes belong to women of the gobi -- Singing beside their camels Suntanned and Sometimes, weeping. Oh gobi, my gob |
Sometimes, gobi cools like Skimmed milk upon boiling Surface of the gobi looks like a Shade of yellow as milk cream. Singing woman of the gobi, On this open plain steppe, Only seldom is befriended by anything, except Occasionally seen saxaul and camels Oh gobi, my gobi.
Got its sandy surface across its prolonged existence However, my gobi is long stretched like the sky Having rich resources hidden under its ground The oil towers have been built up in the Turquoise hills of the gobi and Thus, Rare scenes have been established with Roaring sounds of factory chimneys Oh gobi, my gobi. Gobi, in fact, is a mirror screen – Giving complete view of the sky and the land Gobi mirage is like a Gifted painter drawing Gorgeous cities and villages.
The earth Showcasing magical cities through its Scenic mirages Oh gobi, my gobi. One day, we will build those magical cities Once seen through gobi mirages Water will be extracted from the ground Forming blue rivers Forests will be grown again From the northern part of Mongolia
Got young looks Gobi people will worship it as Oh gobi, my gobi. Onto the sky and into the land |
