Babel Fish

Was reading an interesting essay on how poetry is used in bilingual education the other day. Got me musing again on bible translators and the work they do.

Further to the last post, for those who are interested in compare and contrast with Babelfish.

Houses in a line, in a line,

In a line there,

Squares, squares, squares,

Even people now have square souls,

Ideas in file, I declare,

And on their shoulders, angles wear.

Just yesterday I shed a tear and it

Oh, God, was square!

It was another evening on the phone with BF. Couldn't help but feel one's tears were too square.

Squares and Angles

Casas Enfiladas, Casas Enfiladas.

Casas Enfiladas

Cuadrados, cuadrados, cuadrados.

Casas enfiladas.

Las gentes ya tienen el alma cuadrada,

ideas enfila

y ángulo en la espalda.

Yo misma he vertido ayer una 1ágrima,

Dios mio, cuadrada.

- Alfonsina Storni (1968)

Persuasion

It was the misfortune of poetry, to be seldom safely enjoyed by those who enjoyed it completely; and that the strong feelings which alone could estimate it truly, were the very feelings which ought to taste it but sparingly.

- Anne Elliot, Persuasion by Jane Austen

I feel like starting this.: