2016 – Sappho’s Moon and Pleiades, translations for fun – and performance poems
Original Greek poem:
Δέδυκε μεν ἀ σελάννα
καὶ Πληΐαδεσ, μέσαι δὲ
νύκτεσ πάρα δ᾽ ἔρχετ᾽ ὤρα,
ἔγω δὲ μόνα κατεύδω
Google translate:
Dedyke although a selanna
And Pliiades, through Dec
nyktes too d erchet hour,
I do not own katefdo
Corrected with Word spelling suggestions:
Eddie although a sultana
And Pleiades, through December
nukes too drenched this hour,
I do not own a kite
J Addington Symonds original version:
The Moon has left the sky,
Lost is the Pleiads’ light;
It is midnight,
And time slips by,
But on my couch alone I lie.
J Addington Symonds version in Pirate:
(http://postlikeapirate.com/)
Th’ Moon has left th’ sky, Lost be th’
Pleiads light; It be midnight,
‘n the hour slips by, But on me
couch alone I lie.
(ahgggg)
J Addington Symonds version in Klingon:
(http://tradukka.com)
chal mej mas.
vay’ chil pleiad tis;
‘ugh.
‘ej pong slips poh
‘ach jawvam niteb jiqot.
Mistranslated:
Mrs Moon had left Mr Sky
He had deleted her playlist
Now time ships are like pies
And now a new sofa he must buy
Misremembered, confused & stupid:
The frog has left
The pond under Pleedies
Plop on the couch
it lies
Twitter:
@moon @Pleiades #night #bored