Asturian-American Migration Forum

This is my first attempt at writing a poem in Asturian. I'm enrolled in a poetry seminar as part of my MFA in Creative Writing program, and I wrote it for my poetry course. It's not a course requirement, but I had fun doing it. I wrote in Asturian and translated into English afterward. Comments are corrections are welcome.

Bob


Navidá Asturiana, An Asturian Christmas Bob Martíinez

¡Aleluia!
Veranu, Festa de Samartín, Payares, Avientu, Navidá,
los Reyes Magos traen oru, incensu, mirra pa’ ti Xesu.
Nun hai cruz ni puñalá pa’ ti.
Yeguas rinchandas, ganáu xemirandu,
Borricu, sueñus de paz, Belén.

Pastores y uveichas mansas
escuchen a los ángeles cantanden aleluia.
Favor Xesu, paz y bendigas pa’ toos. muyeres y homes tamien.
¡Aleluia!


Halleluia!
Summer, St. Martin’s Day, November (i.e., harvest), Advent, Christmas,
the Three Kings bring gold, frankincense and myrrh for you Jesus,
There is neither a cross nor a stab wound for you.
Mares whinnying, cattle lowing,
Donkey, dreams of peace, Bethlehem.

Shepherds and gentle sheep
listen to the angels singing alleluia.
Please Jesus, peace and blessings for all, women as well as men.
Halleluia!

Hi, Bob:
very nice Asturian villancicu.
I am not expert in Asturiano, but some words you used are quite strange to me. I re-wrote some of these words and changed the position of some, helping myself with your English version (in order to give the sense):


Aleluia!
Veranu, Festa de Samartín, Payares, Avientu, Navidá.
Xesus, los Reyes Magos traente oru, incensu y mirra.
Pa’ ti, nun hai cruz ni puñalá.
Yegües rinchando, ganáu berrando,
Borricu, sueñus de paz, Belén.

Pastores y uveichas mansas
escuchen a los ángeles cantando aleluia.
Traénos, Xesus, paz y bendiciones pa’ toos, muyeres y homes tamien.
¡Aleluia!


Congratulations! You have a great merit writing in Astuiano.
Marta

Thanks, Marta,

I had fun writing it, even though my skills n'asturianu are fairly minimal. Fortunately, I have a copy of DALLA, and also use the online version, as well as an Asturian grammar, etc.