It began with poet, novelist, and sometimes-translator Youssef Rakha:
He translated two lines by Mutanabbi, and then asked translators Yasmine Seale and Robin Moger — who have made a habit of co-translating Ibn Arabi — to try their hand at “Mutanabbi’s miraculous line”.
https://twitter.com/Sultans_Seal/status/1192438171755302912
Seven more translations ensued.
There were four from Yasmine Seale:
(2) I visit them, black night
my advocate
& go
before the morning light
can ruin it
#
(3) I go to them, knowing the night
Will work for me
And take off before morning
White, my enemy
#
(4) I turn up, safe in black
night’s favour, turning
when darkly at my back
whispers the white morning
#
(5) Night has my back. I stay.
My exit cue: the white
Betrayer, day.
#
Two were by Robin Moger:
(6) I show my face as night
Dark makes my case, the light
Exposing me,
I flee
#
(7) In company, night black’s my suit.
In morning white I wear my welcome out.
#
One was by Samuel Wilder:
(8) I visit them
in night my black emissary;
I fall away
in white morning
pulling me.
Wonderful!
This was the most interesting posting. I will read this at my next Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here poetry reading in March (Steamboat Springs, Colorado).
I loved each and every one of them. The consecutive readings of each translation builds on the beauty of the original poem and enhances the meaning for those of us who don’t understand the original language.
Thank you!
So delighted to hear it!