William Penn Life, 2016 (51. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2016-05-01 / 5. szám
Magyar Matters Poem paints picture of life for immigrants who founded WPA Talyigás Kis Péter Talyigás Kis Péter egyszer csak elindul nagy Amerikába. Jólekü földief hamar beszerezték a szenes bányába s a második héten: Talyigás Péternek ottmaradt egy lába. by Tamás Markovits While looking through my collection of poetry by Hungarian- American poets, I came across a very interesting work entitled, "Élet Könyve" ("Book of Life"). The poem was published in 1942 to commemorate Kemény György's (George Kémény's) 50th year as an author. The poem was probably written at the end of the 19th century. It deals with the tragic misfortune of a young Hungarian miner, a perfect example of what happened to victims of industrial accidents in the 19th and early 20th centuries and one of the reasons for the birth of self-help organizations like the Verhovay Aid Association, the forerunner of today's William Penn Association. I discussed this poem with fellow WPA members during a recent meeting of our branch. Our branch's president, Barbara House, suggested I translate the poem and share it with the readers of William Penn Life. Kemény was bom July 4,1875, in Gardna, Abaúj-Toma County, Hungary. As a young man, he immigrated to the United States and settled in Detroit. In 1903, he started the comic newspaper DONGÓ, with which he continued to entertain American Hungarians until his death in 1952. He began his career, however, as an author and poet more than a decade earlier in 1892. He wrote and published 60 books, of which 25 were books of poetry. Before World War II, he was the only poet living outside of Hungary who was accepted and recognized as a member of the coveted Petőfi writers guild in Budapest. Kemény was very popular and respected by the Hungarian American community. He was asked to serve as the guest speaker at many commemorations and dedications not only in Detroit but also in other American cities with active Hungarian communities. Tamás Markovits is a member and auditor of Branch 18 Lincoln Park. Mich., and an instructor at WPA's Hungarian Heritage Experience. Koldus lett belőle, gyámoltalan koldus; holmi világterhe; idegen országban, fiatal korában de is meg van verve. A feleségének bús sorát megírni ugyan hogy is merje. Nem is írt felőle, nem is izent róla szegény asszonyának, csak mankón sántítva kiállt a sarokra, ahol sokan járnak. Talyigás Kis Péter így ette kenyerét az aranyországnak. Ha az asszonyának levélt írt néha: jó sorát dicsérte: “Jó dógom van itten, nem dógozok ingyen; megfizetnek érte” ... Dicsekő koldusnak sűrűn hullt a könnye mindegyik levélre. The Carter, Peter Kiss The carter, Peter Kiss, started his way to big America. His kind compatriots got him a job in a coal mine. But in his second week, carter Peter left one of his legs down under. Thus, he became a helpless beggar; a burden on society. In a foreign land, at a young age, hopeless and disabled. Of his ill fate, to his beloved wife he could not dare write. So he didn’t write, didn’t message his dear wife, But limped on crutches to a comer busy with foot traffic. Carter Peter Kiss thus earned his bread in the golden land. Seldom, when he wrote to his wife; Praised his good fortune: “It’s going well for me, I don’t work for nothing; I get paid for my labor." And the bragging beggar's tears fell abundantly, on every word he put on paper.
