Taylir Par Ni Gar Casa (Save For Me Your Nights)

by FictionalCricket

Summary:

The Mando'ade have a long tradition of verse, and the more well known war songs are far from the only subject Mandalorian poets have tackled.
Enclosed herein is Taylir Par Ni Gar Casa, one of the oldest known love poems in Mando'a, translated to Galactic Basic (translator's notes included).

Or, I had an idea that I could write a poem old enough that Mandalorian Wars/KOTOR era characters could reference it, and things escalated from there.

Notes:

Hi hello I am back on my bullshit, and have actually come to terms with the fact that this is a thing I do now. I'm still kinda burned out from school and things, but I came up with this less than 48 hours ago. I think that's my fastest time writing and translating one of these.

Unlike the others, this one is more worldbuilding in general. I have vague characters in mind, and I think they're probably going to stay vague.

Also, thanks to a comment I have a new website to get the words from! (mandocreator.com) It has conjugations and the sources for the words and everything :)

A quick PSA: this hasn't been up very long but I've been getting some comments that give me the vibes of possibly not being from actual people. I'm going to be polite to everyone regardless who's not an asshole, regardless of whether they're maybe a bot, but I may be a bit cagier than usual, especially when it comes to discussing anything on not AO3 after little to no conversation. Also, if anyone commenting could be a bit more insane than usual or something so I can be sure I'm talking to a person, that would be appreciated.

Chapter 1: The Poem

N’gai adat ru’dinui ni bid birov,

Su ni ne’liser kyrdir par tioni ori’shya.

Taylir par ni gar casa, cyare verd.

Nu ven’cuyir jat’aaloya ani’shya,

Haa’taylir gar runi ramaanla.

Bal kar’taylir meg solus ner tayli.

 

Nameless one, you have given me so much,

And yet I cannot help but ask for more.

Save for me your nights, dear warrior.

There would be no greater pleasure,

Than to see your soul laid bare.

And know that it is mine alone  to hold and protect.

 

 

 

Translator’s note: the first two lines are omitted in this poem’s original publication, which is the most common version in circulation today. The full version was found carved into a metal tablet, in a box of items dating back to the reign of Te Brokur’ad Mand’alor (Mand’alor the Hammerborn). It is speculated that the poet, Meaashta be Aliit Shale, Te Echoy’la (Meaashta the Lost of Clan Shale) was romantically involved with Te Brokur’ad Mand’alor, a conclusion supported by the poem’s use of the phrase “N’gai adat” or “nameless person” and the at the time common practice of only referring to a Mand’alor by their title. 

Notes:

The main reason for the translator notes is that I keep thinking about translations, and how sometimes publishers change a thing, and how the most well-known version of a thing isn't necessarily the most accurate to the original. It's an interesting concept to build in.

I think Meaashta probably intended for the full version to be seen by people who aren't them or their partner after their death or never, whichever came second. Sorry buddy, the evidence of how down bad you were is being analyzed by lit students hundreds of years later.