"A Dream's Plea" by Lhagvasuren Bavuu(English translation)
"A Dream's Plea" by Lhagvasuren Bavuu(English) translation
A Dream’s Plea: Translating a Mongolian Masterpiece
Introduction to the Author
Lhagvasuren Bavuu (1944–2019) was a towering figure in Mongolian literature. Highly honored as a Hero of Labor, People’s Writer, State Prize Laureate, and Honored Cultural Figure, Lhagvasuren’s poetry resonates deeply with themes of family, homeland, and the nomadic spirit of Mongolia’s people. His works evoke vivid images of the Mongolian steppes, the warmth of maternal care, and the complex bond between parents and children. He is often regarded as a cultural custodian, preserving the spiritual and emotional essence of Mongolia in his verses.
A Dream’s Plea (Зүүдний гуйлга) is one of Lhagvasuren’s most emotionally charged poems. It captures a profound longing for solace and rebirth, expressed through a plea to the heavens for dreams that restore lost connections and meaning.
About Me and Why I Translated This Piece
Hey there! I’m Tavi—short for Tavilan Tumur—a 17-year-old high school senior born in the U.S. and raised in Ulaanbaatar. Although I’ve returned to the States, I’ve carried my love for Mongolian culture with me. I run Tavi’s Translation as a personal project, a small online space where I bring Mongolian poetry, reflections, and occasionally religious texts into English.
Why translate A Dream’s Plea? Honestly, I first stumbled upon this poem through its musical adaptation. The song’s melody and lyrics were so catchy and captivating that I felt compelled to understand the poem’s depth. Once I delved into it, I realized just how powerful the imagery and emotions were. This translation is my way of sharing that beauty with a broader audience, bridging cultural gaps one verse at a time.
The Text: Original Mongolian and English Translation
Below is the poem in its original Mongolian form, followed by my English translation, which is based on the lyrical adaptation found in the song. Afterward, I’ve included a word-for-word breakdown (romanization and literal translation) to give you a deeper look into the linguistic nuances.
English Translation (Adapted from the Song Version)
A Dream's plea
To the first spark that ignited at the horizon of the sky,
Oh, the first glimmering stars,
I beg you for a dream—
Bestow me with a pure dream
Pour a warm dream over me,
My mother with her arag upon her back,
Let her emerge from the shimmering mirage,
Let me rest in her arms scented of aaruul,
Her stubborn child nestled close,
Breathing softly, with warmth in her sighs,
Let me dream deeply, wrapped in her warmth.
To the peaks crowned in mist and silver dew,
Oh, crescent moon like a blade of fate,
I beg you for a dream—
Bestow me with a pure dream
Pour a warm dream over me,
From the white dust of the galloping herds
Oh, let my father appear on his horse,
Let him ride, with the jingling reins,
Let him come down at the post where he tethers.
With the spancel in hand, let him come to me,
Strike me until my marrow shivers.
In a fate half-full, forever askew,
Oh, my cruel and unyielding world,
The reason I begged of you,
The reason I sought to console you—
Grant me a golden melody,
Bestow upon me life’s sacred gift.
In the cold, frosty dawn air,
Turn it into warm milk in my mouth.
Let me awaken, as though reborn,
To feel life anew, just once.
At the white lake’s tranquil morning,
Let me awaken with tears within my chest.
Notes on the Translation Process
I use generative language models as a starting point—think of it like having an assistant to get the rough draft together. Then I spend hours refining it, adding cultural and emotional nuances. In this poem, maintaining references like arag (a traditional frame carried on the back) and aaruul (dried curd) was essential. I chose to keep these Mongolian words untranslated because they carry cultural weight that can’t be easily captured in English.
The father’s discipline, the mother’s warmth, and the spiritual dialogue with stars and the moon all required careful handling to retain their emotional complexity. Every line was a balancing act between literal meaning, cultural resonance, and poetic beauty.
More on the translation
The title
The translated title, A Dream’s Plea, captures the essence of the original Mongolian while maintaining poetic elegance in English. The English phrasing mirrors the heartfelt and intimate nature of the poem, allowing readers to connect with its themes of longing and hope. When combined, Зүүдний гуйлга can be interpreted literally as "The Plea of a Dream" or "A Dream's Plea." However, the phrase also suggests an emotional depth that transcends a simple request—it conveys a yearning for something deeply personal and transformative. In the context of the poem, it reflects the speaker’s desperate request for a dream to bring warmth, comfort, and a sense of renewal. Directly translates to "plea" or "begging." In Mongolian, it carries a connotation of earnest, humble supplication, often born out of deep need or longing. Гуйлга (Guilga): This word establishes the central theme of the poem, focusing on dreams as a source of solace and connection.Derived from зүүд (züüd), meaning "dream." The suffix -ний indicates possession, translating roughly to "of the dream" or "dream's."Зүүдний (Züüdnii): The title Зүүдний гуйлга (Züüdnii guilga) is a combination of two key words: Notes on the Title: "A Dream’s Plea"
Below is a line-by-line romanization and literal, word-for-word translation of the original Mongolian text from the Cyrillic script. This approach intentionally ignores poetic flow or idiomatic phrasing, aiming instead to show the raw, literal sense of each line. Notes follow each stanza to help explain cultural references, word choices, and imagery.
Original Mongolian Text (for reference)
Тэнгэрийн хаяанд эхэлж ассан цог
Түрүүчийн гялаан одод минь ээ
Чамаас би зүүд гуйя
Гэгээн зүүд надад хайрлаач
Бүлээн зүүд над дээр асгаач
Араг үүрсэн ижийг минь
Зэрэглээн дундаас ургуулж
Ааруул үнэртсэн энгэрт нь
Зөрүүд хүүг нь наалгаач
Зөөлхөн халуун амьсгаанд нь
Сэвлэг хөдөлгөн зүүдлүүлж өгөөч
Цахиур манан уулсын оройд гөеөдсөн
Цаазын илд шиг хавирган сар минь
Чамаас би зүүд гуйя
Гэгээн зүүд надад хайрлаач
Бүлээн зүүд над дээр асгаачээ
Адууны цагаан тоосон дундаас
Аавыг минь морьтой нь торойлгооч
Дөрөө амгай шигширгэм
Дөмөн хумин уяан дээр буулгаач
Чөдөр барин надруу ирүүлээд
Чөмөг шархиртал ороолгуулж өгөөч
Хагас дүүрэн байдаг хэлтгий заяанд
Хатуу нь дэндүү хорвоо минь дээ
Чамаас би гуйсны учир
Чамайг би аргадсны учир
Алтан эгшиг надад хайрлаач
Амин хишиг надад өгөөч
Агаарах үүрийн хүйтэн хяраанаар
Амандаа халуун сүү болгооч
Ахиж төрсөн юм шиг
Сэрж нэг үзмээр байна
Өрөмт нуурын ангирт өглөө
Өрцөндөө нулимстай сэрж нэг үзье дээ
Romanization and Word-for-Word Translation
Stanza 1
Тэнгэрийн хаяанд эхэлж ассан цог
Tengeriin hayand ehelj assan tsog
Sky’s horizon-at beginning lit ember/spark
Түрүүчийн гялаан одод минь ээ
Türüüchiin gyalaan odod min ee
First shining stars mine oh
Чамаас би зүүд гуйя
Chamaas bi züüd guiya
From you I dream beg
Гэгээн зүүд надад хайрлаач
Gegeen züüd nadad hairlaach
Bright/holy dream to me bestow (please)
Бүлээн зүүд над дээр асгаач
Büleen züüd nad deer asgaach
Warm dream on me pour (please)
Араг үүрсэн ижийг минь
Arag üürsen ijii-g min
Arag-carrying mother my
Зэрэглээн дундаас ургуулж
Zeregleen dundaas urgуулj
From mirage midst cause-to-emerge
Ааруул үнэртсэн энгэрт нь
Aaruul ünertssen engert ni
Aaruul-scented at-her-bosom
Зөрүүд хүүг нь наалгаач
Zörüüd khüü-g ni naalgaach
Stubborn son her attach (please)
Зөөлхөн халуун амьсгаанд нь
Zöölkhön haluun amisgaand ni
Gentle warm in-her-breath
Сэвлэг хөдөлгөн зүүдлүүлж өгөөч
Sevleg khödölgön züüdlüülj ögööch
Fine-hair making-move cause-to-dream give (please)
Notes:
- “Arag” is a traditional Mongolian wooden frame used for carrying items.
- “Aaruul” is dried curd, a common Mongolian dairy product.
- The imagery depicts the speaker wanting to be reunited with their mother’s warmth and care, literally “attaching” the stubborn child to her bosom and breathing softly so that the child dreams safely.
Stanza 2
Цахиур манан уулсын оройд гөеөдсөн
Tsakhiur manan uulsyn oroid göeödsön
Flint fog mountains’ summit adorned
Цаазын илд шиг хавирган сар минь
Tsaazyn ild shig havirgan sar min
Execution sword like crescent moon mine
Чамаас би зүүд гуйя
Chamaas bi züüd guiya
From you I dream beg
Гэгээн зүүд надад хайрлаач
Gegeen züüd nadad hairlaach
Bright/holy dream to me grant (please)
Бүлээн зүүд над дээр асгаачээ
Büleen züüd nad deer asgaachee
Warm dream on me pour (please)
Адууны цагаан тоосон дундаас
Aduuny tsagaan tooson dundaas
From horses’ white dust midst
Аавыг минь морьтой нь торойлгооч
Aavyg min moritoi ni toroilgooch
Father my with-his-horse make-appear (in distance)
Дөрөө амгай шигширгэм
Döröö amgai shigshirgem
Stirrup bit jingling
Дөмөн хумин уяан дээр буулгаач
Dömän khumin uyan deer buulgaach
Spancel holding tether-at dismount-him (please)
Чөдөр барин надруу ирүүлээд
Chödör barin nadruu irüüleed
Hobble holding toward-me send-him
Чөмөг шархиртал ороолгуулж өгөөч
Chömög sharkhirtal oroolguulj ögööch
Until marrow aches have (me) whipped (please)
Notes:
- “Торойлгооч” (toroilgooch) suggests making the father appear as a small distant figure, emerging from the dust.
- The father’s image is tied to horses, reins, and traditional discipline (whipping until marrow aches). This reflects a harsh but culturally resonant paternal figure.
Stanza 3
Хагас дүүрэн байдаг хэлтгий заяанд
Khagas düüren baidag khetgii zayaand
In half-full existing tilted fate
Хатуу нь дэндүү хорвоо минь дээ
Khatuu ni dendüü khorvoo min dee
Hardness too-much world mine indeed
Чамаас би гуйсны учир
Chamaas bi guysny uchir
From you I asked reason
Чамайг би аргадсны учир
Chamaig bi argadsny uchir
You I appeased reason
Алтан эгшиг надад хайрлаач
Altan egshig nadad hairlaach
Golden melody to me grant (please)
Амин хишиг надад өгөөч
Amin khishig nadad ögööch
Life’s blessing to me give (please)
Агаарах үүрийн хүйтэн хяраанаар
Agaarakh üüriin khüiten khyaaraanaar
In-air dawn’s cold frost-time
Амандаа халуун сүү болгооч
Amandaa haluun süü bolgooch
In-my-mouth hot milk cause-to-become (please)
Ахиж төрсөн юм шиг
Akhij törsön yum shig
As-if reborn again
Сэрж нэг үзмээр байна
Serj neg üzmеer baina
Awakening once want to-experience
Өрөмт нуурын ангирт өглөө
Örömt nuuriin angirt öglöö
Creamy-lake’s wild-duck-filled morning
Өрцөндөө нулимстай сэрж нэг үзье дээ
Örtsöndöö nulimstai serj neg üzye dee
With tears in (my) diaphragm/heart awaken once let-me-try indeed
Notes:
- “Өрөмт нуур” (Örömt nuur) could be a metaphorical or actual place: a “cream-covered” lake. “Ангир” is a kind of wild duck or goose, symbolizing a tranquil, pastoral morning scene.
- The poem ends with a wish to awaken as if reborn, with tears held deep inside, suggesting a renewal or spiritual catharsis.
Additional Cultural and Linguistic Notes
- The tone:
The poem contrasts tender warmth, like the mother’s embrace and warm milk, with the father’s discipline, not as harshness but as a cherished part of familial love. The speaker yearns for both nurturing and guidance, reflecting a deep appreciation for the parental bonds that shaped them - Linguistic Challenges:
The original text’s syntax, metaphors, and imperative forms do not cleanly transfer into English. Mongolian verbs like “наалгаач” (naalgaach – “make me attach”), “торойлгооч” (toroilgooch – “make appear distantly”), and “орооолгуулж” (oroolguulj – “to have someone be whipped”) contain specific causative and request forms that are cumbersome in direct English translation. - Spiritual and Existential Themes:
The poem frequently addresses natural elements (stars, moon, mountains), treating them as interlocutors from whom the speaker begs dreams, blessings, and renewal. This confers a spiritual dimension, suggesting fate and nature as active forces shaping human experience.
Translation of Sosorbaram’s Commentary on A Dream’s Plea
State Laureate Actor D. Sosorbaram, while explaining the meaning and essence of A Dream’s Plea, expressed his frustration with modern attitudes and societal behavior. During the discussion, a journalist reminded him of his previous statement, “We are all beggars,” to which he responded with candid criticism:
“Well, what can I say? We’re all struggling, yet we call each other beggars so often. Worse, we use it as an insult, to degrade and scorn one another. If you examine A Dream’s Plea stanza by stanza, you’ll find profound meaning in each line. Take, for instance, the line: ‘Let my mother with her arag emerge from the shimmering mirage.’ Why do we worship empty things, light candles, and bow to Buddha or Christ or whatever else, when it’s all meaningless? Instead, why not bow once to the living god that is your mother? Why not honor her while she’s alive?”
Sosorbaram elaborated further on the disconnect between our actions and our values:
“We drink, mistreat, and torment our loved ones, then go to their graves and say, ‘Forgive me, I’m doing well now,’ a thousand times. What good does it do? That’s the mark of the lowest, most pitiful beggar. And in the poem, there’s also this plea: ‘Let my father appear on his horse, emerging from the dust of galloping herds.’ But even this longing becomes meaningless if expressed only after someone has passed.”
Sosorbaram’s critique extended to society at large, emphasizing how people beg for things that hold little real value:
“Once they’re gone, begging for anything is useless. Doesn’t that make us hopeless beggars? Today, it seems like we’ve become a society of beggars—begging for everything under the sun. There’s no difference between the beggar scavenging through trash and the one begging for a throne. We are born naked, and we leave naked—so what’s the point of collecting medals and accolades? Instead, why not face yourself, beg from yourself?”
Cultural Note: The Weight of the Word "Beggar"
In Mongolian society, the term "beggar" (гуйлгачин) is considered deeply derogatory and carries significant social stigma. It implies not just poverty but a lack of dignity and self-reliance. Sosorbaram deliberately uses this provocative term to force reflection on how society often devalues what truly matters—family, gratitude, and genuine connection—while chasing superficial goals
This bold commentary resonated with many, as it challenges us to reflect on our priorities, how we treat those closest to us, and the futility of valuing superficial achievements over genuine human connection. Sosorbaram’s words invite listeners to consider the deeper message of A Dream’s Plea: the importance of gratitude, presence, and honoring what truly matters before it’s too late.
A Song That Resonates
Sosorbaram’s performance of A Dream’s Plea transformed the poem into a widely beloved piece of art. Renowned Mongolian composer L. Balkhjav crafted the haunting melody that perfectly complements the emotional depth of Lhagvasuren Bavuu’s poem. The song became a hit, resonating deeply with audiences across Mongolia and amplifying the poem’s core themes.
Sosorbaram’s emotive delivery allowed listeners to feel the raw longing and existential questions at the heart of the work. Through the success of the song, his reflections on gratitude, presence, and misplaced priorities reached an even broader audience. His performance continues to inspire individuals to reassess their values and honor what truly matters before it is too late.
My Thoughts on the Poem
For me, A Dream’s Plea is an incredible piece. It’s one of those poems that manages to be both intensely personal and universally relatable. The longing for a mother’s warmth, the complicated respect and fear we hold for our fathers, the sense of spiritual yearning—all these themes transcend cultures and time periods.
What makes it particularly special is how it captures the raw emotional tapestry of Mongolian life. The imagery isn’t just pretty—it’s loaded with meaning. From the scent of aaruul to the dust kicked up by galloping herds, the poem grounds its universal messages in uniquely Mongolian experiences.
And of course, the singer’s commentary adds another layer. It reminds me that poetry isn’t just about appreciating beauty; it’s also about learning from it. The poem, the song, and Sosorbaram’s words together challenge us to live more thoughtfully, to love more openly, and to value what we have before it slips away.
In Closing
Translating A Dream’s Plea was a rewarding experience, one that deepened my appreciation for Mongolian culture and Lhagvasuren Bavuu’s poetic genius. It’s a poem that invites reflection, inspires gratitude, and resonates far beyond the steppes for anyone willing to listen.
Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I hope this exploration—complete with the original text, translation, notes, and commentary—offers you a meaningful glimpse into the soul of Mongolian literature.
Sources
- Original Poem:
Lhagvasuren Bavuu, A Dream’s Plea (Зүүдний гуйлга), widely regarded as one of his most emotionally resonant works. - Musical Adaptation:
- Music by L. Balkhjav, renowned composer in Mongolia.
- Performed by State Laureate Actor D. Sosorbaram.
- Song link on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlnNZDkhU74
- Interview with Sosorbaram:
Sosorbaram, D. Zindaa.mn Interview. Available at https://news.zindaa.mn/17ti.
Comments
Post a Comment