The gourmet frog
Will leap at chances
Or make direct advances
With his eloquent,
Extensive tongue
To secure his favourite food
That others may find crude
Or perhaps a little
Underdone.
He takes his time to savour
That fine, distinctive flavour
Of escargots
With blue-bottle fly
Then, quite conceivably,
A little eau-de-vie
And a thought
As he taps his thigh..
*
Will leap at chances
Or make direct advances
With his eloquent,
Extensive tongue
To secure his favourite food
That others may find crude
Or perhaps a little
Underdone.
He takes his time to savour
That fine, distinctive flavour
Of escargots
With blue-bottle fly
Then, quite conceivably,
A little eau-de-vie
And a thought
As he taps his thigh..
*
La grenouille gourmet
Saute sur les chances
Ou fait des avances
Avec sa langue éloquente
Et étendue
Pour attrapper son repas
Que d'autres ne dégustent pas
L'estimant répugnant
Et assez cru
La grenouille prend le temps de goûter
En fine sauce baveuse et veloutée
Des escargots- aux mouches bleues
Pour son délice
Puis sereinement accroupie
Sirotant son eau-de-vie
La grenouille songe, en tapotant
Sa cuisse.
*
Saute sur les chances
Ou fait des avances
Avec sa langue éloquente
Et étendue
Pour attrapper son repas
Que d'autres ne dégustent pas
L'estimant répugnant
Et assez cru
La grenouille prend le temps de goûter
En fine sauce baveuse et veloutée
Des escargots- aux mouches bleues
Pour son délice
Puis sereinement accroupie
Sirotant son eau-de-vie
La grenouille songe, en tapotant
Sa cuisse.
*
La buongustaia rana
Salta sulla fortuna,
O fa delle avances
Con la sua lingua
Lunga ed eloquente
Per prendere il suo cibo
Che altri trovano crudo,
Stimandolo poco cotto
E repellente.
Ha sempre tempo per gustare
Distendosi per assaporare
Degli escargots con moscone
Blu bottiglia.
Poi forse per finire
Un'euforica acquavite,
E un pensiero toccando
La sua coscia.
Salta sulla fortuna,
O fa delle avances
Con la sua lingua
Lunga ed eloquente
Per prendere il suo cibo
Che altri trovano crudo,
Stimandolo poco cotto
E repellente.
Ha sempre tempo per gustare
Distendosi per assaporare
Degli escargots con moscone
Blu bottiglia.
Poi forse per finire
Un'euforica acquavite,
E un pensiero toccando
La sua coscia.
_
Although The Gourmet Frog is a French, epicurean frog, the poem
(or doggerel for the 'purists') naturally has a distinct, Anglo-Saxon (or Anglo-Scottish) flavour. The style of the illustrations might also be considered classical Anglo-Saxon, even if- and perhaps also because- it was perfectly natural for the artist to create the Animal series, at a particular period of his life for his own amusement.
Some of the series have been published in books and also in card form, with the original 'doggerel' in the latter case.
Occasionally more of them will be shown on Viewfinder.
Because of the Anglo-Saxonism, especially characteristic to this particular work, it seems fitting to try to retain this quality as much as possible in the translations, which in my view makes them also an interesting challenge.
If there are any French or Italian poets (or writers of 'doggerel'- an art in itself) who think they might be able to write amusing versions of the above efforts, I would be very interested in reading the results.
I would also be delighted, and most willing to add any worthy contributions, most certainly as comments, and even more so if they are written by children (of all ages).
This note could also apply to any future publication of examples of the Animal series on Viewfinder, concerning poem translation in French and Italian, or in any other language, for that matter.
(or doggerel for the 'purists') naturally has a distinct, Anglo-Saxon (or Anglo-Scottish) flavour. The style of the illustrations might also be considered classical Anglo-Saxon, even if- and perhaps also because- it was perfectly natural for the artist to create the Animal series, at a particular period of his life for his own amusement.
Some of the series have been published in books and also in card form, with the original 'doggerel' in the latter case.
Occasionally more of them will be shown on Viewfinder.
Because of the Anglo-Saxonism, especially characteristic to this particular work, it seems fitting to try to retain this quality as much as possible in the translations, which in my view makes them also an interesting challenge.
If there are any French or Italian poets (or writers of 'doggerel'- an art in itself) who think they might be able to write amusing versions of the above efforts, I would be very interested in reading the results.
I would also be delighted, and most willing to add any worthy contributions, most certainly as comments, and even more so if they are written by children (of all ages).
This note could also apply to any future publication of examples of the Animal series on Viewfinder, concerning poem translation in French and Italian, or in any other language, for that matter.
__
Poems and illustration © Mirino (PW). August, 2011
With thanks to Rob (Wind Rose Hotel) for his advice re. the Italian version.
With thanks to Rob (Wind Rose Hotel) for his advice re. the Italian version.
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7 comments:
ma dài: è tua anche la poesia?!?!?!? Sei troppo forte!
Quanti vantaggi nell'essere scostanti e ripugnanti: il volgo mantiene una sana distanza e ti permette di dar spazio ai tuoi passatempi preferiti, come saltare tra i fossi e cacciar fuori la lingua...
ehehehe
Sei gentile Saamaya. Queste 'poesie' animali le ho scritto molto tempo fa. Viewfinder è un buon veicolo per pubblicare ogni tanto una parte della mia 'opera' più personale.
Ora sto provando tradurre La rana buongustaia in italiano. Forse sarà finito oggi, dopo la verifica di buon amico italiano..
In somma mi diverto imparando.
Su Windrose Hotel troverai Mirino's Rainbow alphabet doggerel scritti per i bambini francesi, ed allora anche italiani, per aiutarli con la pronuncia inglese.
;-)
Nell'altro blog sei "ospite"?
ha dei riferimenti inquietanti...!
Per un periodo piacevole ho contribuito a Wind Rose Hotel. Ogni tanto sono sempre disponibile per aiutare a fare traduzioni, ma purtroppo ho meno tempi disponibile per contribuire tanto quanto prima. In ogni modo non inquietarti Saamaya!
When last in Scotland (in Peebles) I happened to come across some postcards with Tommy Cooper jokes. It then brightened my day even more. One of them seems appropriate here.
'I went into a French restaurant and asked the waiter if he had frogs' legs'.
'Yes', he said.
I said, 'Well hop into the kitchen and make me a cheese-sandwich'..
Mi fido.
Ot.
Mirino, adesso ho capito le eprovenienze e contatti tra i blog!!!
Galeotto fu OkNotizie ed il Polipone
:-D
Hai ragione Saamaya. Il mondo diventa più piccolo e ancora più bello quando riusciamo a capirci. Mentre purtroppo Okno sembra diventare troppo piccolo per migliorarsi..
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