New Year's Poem 2024

[Anonymoose]

It's that time of year, again! The... beginning of it, that is...

Please don't hesitate to correct transcriptions or translations.

ENGLISH

I awake at the break of dawn, as I always do.
Turning to scan the western seas, I contemplate the journey ahead.
Will it seem a homecoming, or a new beginning?
Time will tell - though the salt winds whisper to me of things unknown...

—From the journal of an explorer

JAPANESE

旅立ちの朝は、いつも早く目が覚める。
I always wake up early the morning I depart.

暁光の射す海に臨み、西への旅路に思いを馳せた。
I face the sea, glistening in dawn's light, and contemplate the voyage West.

それは帰郷と呼ぶべきか、新たな一歩と呼ぶべきか。
Should I consider it a homecoming, or a new journey?

冷たい潮風の先に、未知との出会いを予感している。
I have a sense that beyond this cool breeze on the sea lies an encounter with the unknown.


ある探求者の手記より抜粋
—Excerpt from a Seeker's Notes


(Thanks for the transcription corrections, Ein!)

GERMAN

Der Morgen meines Reise, ich erwache beizeiten.
The morning of my journey, I awaken early.

Das Meer glitzert noch rot, die Gedanken wellenreiten.
The sea still glistens red, my thoughts ride on the waves.

Eine Heimkehr? Ein Neuanfang in westlichen Weiten?
A homecoming? Or a new beginning in the West?

Jenseits kalter Brisen ersehne ich neue Wahrheiten.
Beyond cool breezes, I long for new truths.


Aus den Memoiren eines Wissbegierigen
—From the memoires of an inquisitive person

FRENCH

Alors que j'entame ma route, à la lueur du petit matin
As I set out on my journey, in the early morning light,

Les reflets sur les flots semblent m'indiquer le chemin.
the reflections on the waves seem to show me the way.

Ménera-t-il à ma patrie, ou vers de nouvelles contrées?
Does it lead to my homeland, or to new lands?

Par l'appel de l'inconnu je me laisse emporter.
I let myself be carried away by the call of the unknown.


Extrait du journal d'un explorateur
—Excerpt from an explorer's journal

COMBINED PANSLATION

I awaken early, as I always do on the days I set off.
The dawn behind sets the sea alight; a glistening trial leading west. I contemplate the journey to come.
Is this truly a homecoming? Or would it be better to call it a new beginning?
As the cool breeze takes hold of the sails, I hear only the call of the unknown.

—Except from an explorer's journal



So far it's giving Erenville.

He's totally just a normal not special bun with no particularly relevant backstory beyond his taking of a city name you juyz, really.

[Rannie]

Ngl i read that thinking of Erenville (and hearing it being read in his voice too)

[Enkidoh]

Yeah I agree with Rannie, it definetely sounds like Erenville (appropriate given his coming importance in DT).

Also welcome back Professor! And I hope you get better soon!

[Cleretic]

Yeah, that's gotta be Erenville, since it seems like his 'homecoming' was a (short) trip to Tural.

[Anonymoose]

I think we've got all 4 locked in (bonus panslation as always). Corrections welcome.

It's still giving Erenville.

Also welcome back Professor! And I hope you get better soon!

Thank you! Should a "naps and juice" situation (knock on wood). Not feeling any shades of Final Fantasy Fourteen Fan...demic Las Vegas.

[Cleretic]

The one disappointing thing about reading all the translations is that the English loses the element that he (presuming this is Erenville) does this every time he leaves on a trip, instead implying he does it all the time in general.

I'm not gonna say Erenville's someone who wakes up late, he probably isn't, but the mention of a trip instead makes me think he's the kind of guy who leaves for the airport four hours before the flight. And that feels like exactly the sort of person Erenville is.

[YianKutku]

The one disappointing thing about reading all the translations is that the English loses the element that he (presuming this is Erenville) does this every time he leaves on a trip, instead implying he does it all the time in general.

As a counterpoint, if I were to translate the Japanese text (being the only non-English example I understand), I would do it how the English version says.

As in, the first line of the English version lacks the part about going on a journey, but the idea is the speaker always wakes early, and the day they are embarking on their journey is no different.

"旅立ちの朝は" is "the morning I set off on my trip", and "いつも早く目が覚める" is "I wake up early as usual".

[h-alpha]

Das Meer glitzert noch rot, die Gedanken wellenreiten.
The sea still glistens red, my thoughts ride on the waves.

Something something "red sky in the morning, sailors take warning" something something a red dawn rises something something oncoming storm

/halfjoking