If the French slowed down
enough for me to understand
I might be able to translate
(mais non le subjonctif!)*
but German, though understandable,
exists in a Parallel Universe
wo keine Englische Worte anpassen konnen**
and Italians take the same indefinably elegant
approach to language as they do to fashion
ma penso che l'eleganza delle donne italiane sia un mito***
or perhaps just untranslateable
* but not the subjunctive
**where no English words fit
***but I think the elegance of Italian women is a myth
a Macaroni poem (one including more than one language) for Monday Poetry Stretch
A while back I reviewed Paso Doble a book of poetry by ANAMARÍA CROWE SERRANO & ANNAMARIA FERRAMOSCA where each poem was written in Italian and English. You can read the review here.
5 comments:
oh, this was a dream... and thank you for the translations,, they made it all come to life for me... how very clever... i love the way you did this... i feel this form was created exactly for this purpose... i loved it!!!!!
paisley - thanks! I've had the English draft of the poem for a while and finding this prompt just brought it to life!
Hah! Very cool. Layer upon layer, translation is such an infinite thought field. That is a very clever poem. My blog got translated into German for some reason and I don't know any German but it was fun to look at. Someone I know got translated into Spanish and I was so jealous. Your poetry is always so intelligent and calm and cool,
sister ae - thanks!
gignatao - and your comments are always so intelligent and well thought out, thanks! Odd that your blog was translated into German just like that!
Very effective the way you used your last lines. Thanks for giving us the translation at the bottom. It fits together beautifully - very thoughtful poem!
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