Thursday, 5 April 2018

Sideways Glance





Find a poem in a language you don’t know . Ignore any accompanying English translation . Now start translating the poem into English, with the idea that the poem is actually “about” your photograph. Use the look and feel of the words in the original to guide you along as you write, while trying to describe your photograph. It will be a bit of a balancing act, but hopefully it will lead to new and beautiful (and possibly very weird) places.



Robert Doisneau....Un Regard Oblique

 Napowrimo 2018

Day 5

Westfalenlied by Emil Rittershaus


 ihr mogt den Rhein, den stolzen, preisen,
Der in dem Schoß der Reben liegt;
 Wo in den berger ruht das Eisen

taking the mrs for a sunday stroll
along the boulevard
voila my favourite painting
Wow  better than a cheese burger 

Da hat die Mutter mich gewiegt.
Hoch auf dem Fels die Tannen steh’n,
Im grünen Tal die Herden geh’n,
Als Wächter an des Hofes Saum
Reckt sich empor der Eichenbaum

i bought the old girl a new hat
i remember when
she looked like that ripe peach
Alas I could never get her
to wear the black stockings( far too catholic)
retch.. sick emperor that's what she said to me

da ist’s, wo meine Wiege stand,
O, grüß’ dich Gott, Westfalenland
-

this is what happens when you don't take a stand
O you grub said God i'm sending you out west


19 comments:

  1. Well grubs are drawn to over-ripe fruit, so there's that.

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  2. I laughed so much as I read your addled translation I had to wait a few minutes before commenting. Thank you so much, this made my Sunday!

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  3. I'm pleased I've made an old man very happy:)

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  4. Giggles all the way...

    Much love...

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  5. This is rather hilarious. What a fun prompt!

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  6. Wonderful! I love what she says. I hope she kept the hat and thought it "better than a cheeseburger"!

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  7. Gave me a well-needed chuckle this morning!

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  8. Oh this was very creative and such fun!

    Donna@LivingFromHappiness

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  9. Loved your translations...humorous :D

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  10. Brilliant, it brought a smile to my face and a laugh to my mouth. A brilliant interpretation!
    Anna :o]

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  11. I love this. It seems to have challenged your imagination to produce something entertaining. Nice exercise.

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  12. I DO love this translation. And it fit the photo so well....

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  13. Loved this! Can't stop grinning.

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  14. Love this so much, and like Old Egg it made me laugh, out loud too.

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