The Stephen Spender Prize is a leading annual award that celebrates the art of poetry translation. It provides a platform for poets and translators of all ages to share their love for languages and literature with a wider audience.
This year, UoB School Sixth Form student, Ana, emerged as one of three winners nationally in the Schools Laureate Post 16 category. Ana’s achievement is a testament to her creativity, and passion for poetry and translation. Winning this award is no small feat, as it involves a deep understanding of both the source language and the target language, as well as the ability to convey the original poem’s tone, rhythm, and meaning.
Ana selected Romanian Poet Alexandru Macedonski’s poem ‘Rondelul rozelor ce mor’ translated as Rondel of the Dying Roses. Her winning entry stood out for its eloquent translation and the way it captured the essence of the original poem. By carefully selecting words and phrases that resonate in the target language, Ana managed to retain the emotional depth of the original work. “I considered the form of the poem to be essential…I knew I needed to keep it, and the rhyme pattern. Consequently, it was difficult to directly translate everything in each verse, however, I believe that even with the altered phrasing, the atmosphere and feeling was retained.” Ana.
“Taking part in the Stephen Spender Prize encourages our young people to engage with languages and literature, fostering a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and artistic expression. It demonstrates how languages can transcend boundaries and connect people from different cultures.
Many of our pupils and students from all year groups have been taking part in translation workshops (funded by the University of Birmingham Impact Accelerator Award with Dr Emma Wagstaff) in English and Languages lessons throughout the year, inspiring many to submit their work for the competition. I would like to say well done to all those who entered their work, including pupil Rithicka who received a special commendation in the lower school category.” Mrs L Holleran, Subject Leader for Languages at UoB School.
A special thank you and congratulations goes out to Mrs Holleran, who was awarded the ‘Outstanding Teacher Commendation’ for her, and the wider department’s, work on translation and languages.
Rondel of the Dying Roses, translated by Ana.
The roses have begun to die,
Dead in gardens, and dead in me
And they were so, so full of life,
Yet they’ve disappeared so easily.
Shivers are felt, far and wide,
And we all endure the misery.
The roses have begun to die,
Dead in gardens, and dead in me.
Underneath the mournful night,
Waves of sobs flow messily,
And as evening falls, with majesty,
They tenderly lower their eyes.
The roses have begun to die.
