William Wordsworth Solitary Reaper

The Solitary Reaper poem is one of the best known lyric by English romantic poet William Wordsworth. This poem, the Solitary Reaper is in ballad form. Ballad is a poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas. In this poem, the Solitary Reaper, the poet William Wordsworth tells us a story about a girl (Highland Lass), which alone in the field and harvesting the crops. This girl is the Solitary Reaper singing a sad song that echoes in the deep valley. This poem Solitary Reaper is one of my favorite poems and I am trying to translate it into Hindi….

The story of the poem The Solitary Reaper is set in Scotland. The girl is not aware that some one is able to see her. But in her natural way she goes on working (reaping) and singing.

The song is melancholic, it is not understood but it has left a great impression in the heart and mind. Please find below few more details about the poet from Wikipedia ……

                                                  William Wordsworth
Wordsworth on Helvellyn by Benjamin Robert Haydon.jpg

Portrait of William Wordsworth by Benjamin Robert Haydon (National Portrait Gallery).

Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom
In office
6 April 1843 – 23 April 1850
Monarch Victoria
Preceded by Robert Southey
Succeeded by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Personal details
Born 7 April 1770
CockermouthCumberland, England
Died 23 April 1850 (aged 80)
RydalWestmorland, England
Relatives
Alma mater St John’s College, Cambridge
Occupation Poet

हिन्दी अनुवाद

निहारो, उसको खेत में है अकेली,

वह एकांत पहाड़ी मैदान की कन्या !

कटाई कर रही और खुद ही गाना ग रही है;

रुको यहाँ, अथवा शिष्टता से लांध जाओ !

अकेली में वह काटती और फसल के बीज को बांध लेती है,

और गाती एक उदासी और तनाव पैदा करनेवाली गीत;

और सुनो! इस घाटी के लिए अति गंभीर

ध्वनी से जो प्लावित हो रहा है इस घाटी पे ।

किसी बुलबुल ने ऐसी कोई गीत कभी न गाया होगा

थके हुए या ऊबे हुए वादक मंडली/यात्रियों के लिए एक ज्यादा बड़ा स्वागत सुर

पथिकों के वास्ते जैसा छायादार अड्डा हो,

अरब के रेगिस्तान में:

इतना रोमांचकारी स्वर कभी नहीं सुने गए थे

वसंत ऋतु में भी कोएल पक्षी से,

समुद्रों का सन्नाटा तोड़ते हुए

जो सुदूर हैब्रिड्स द्वीपों के बीच में ।

क्या मुझे कोई भी नहीं बोलेगा वह क्या गा रही है?-

शायद दुखपूर्ण सुर (पद या छंद) बह रहा है

बिगड़ा हुआ, मंद भाग्य, दूर की बातों के वास्ते,

और बहुत पहले हुए युद्धों के लिए :

अथवा यह कोई रोज़मर्रा की ज़िंदगी की कोई साधारण-सी बात हो?

आज का जाना-पहचाना विषयवस्तु?

किंचित स्वाभाविक दुख होना, हानी, या पीढ़ा की बात,

जो हो चुका है, और शायद फिर से हो सकता है ?

जो कुछ भी मूल विषय पर, युवती ने गाया

मानो उसके गाने का कोई अंत नहीं हो सकता

मैंने उसे देखा अपने काम में संलग्न हो कर गाते हुए,

और आगे झुक कर हंसुए से काटते हुए गाती रहती है;-

मैंने सुना, निस्तब्ध और अचल हो कर

और ज्योंही मैं पहाड़ी के ऊपर चढ़ गया

इस संगीत को मेरे दिल मे बसा रखा,

वह सुनाई देने के बंद होने के बाद भी, बहुत दिनों तक।

अनुवादक – रतिकान्त सिंह

(Original English Poem)

The Solitary Reaper

BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

Behold her, single in the field,

Yon solitary Highland Lass!

Reaping and singing by herself;

Stop here, or gently pass!

Alone she cuts and binds the grain,

And sings a melancholy strain;

O listen! for the Vale profound

Is overflowing with the sound.

No Nightingale did ever chaunt

More welcome notes to weary bands

Of travellers in some shady haunt,

Among Arabian sands:

A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard

In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,

Breaking the silence of the seas

Among the farthest Hebrides.

Will no one tell me what she sings?—

Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow

For old, unhappy, far-off things,

And battles long ago:

Or is it some more humble lay,

Familiar matter of to-day?

Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,

That has been, and may be again?

Whate’er the theme, the Maiden sang

As if her song could have no ending;

I saw her singing at her work,

And o’er the sickle bending;—

I listened, motionless and still;

And, as I mounted up the hill,

The music in my heart I bore,

Long after it was heard no more.

**************

CONCLUSION : The major themes brought out through this poem “The Solitary Reaper” is ever lasting beauty and sorrow.

This poem speaks about the young girl busy working and singing and the poet does not understand it. But it seems the girl is outpouring her heart and her feelings in the lap of nature. The matchless beauty of the song touches the core of his heart and remains ever in his heart, mind and soul.

It is always very much difficult to translate a poem into another language because it is difficult to bring alive the feelings and the beauty of the original poem.

I have tried my best to do justices to the poem as per my ability. I sincerely believe that the Hindi knowing people will be benefited a lot and enjoy a famous poem.

Please give your feedback and suggest improvement ……..

…..Ratikanta Singh