Translation - art & business » Literature / Poetry »
Pages in topic:   < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10]
Poetry Corner: Do you have any favourite poems? If so, share them here!
Thread poster: Paul Dixon
P.L.F. Persio
P.L.F. Persio  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 20:43
Member (2010)
English to Italian
+ ...
Covid-era poem Jul 23, 2021

I find this very moving:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jul/23/death-and-detergents-spanish-poet-sets-hospital-laundry-work-to-verse

Extract: 23 March 2020, The Shrouds Are Piling Up in Cardboard Boxes
The shrouds are piling up in cardboard boxes
by the bathroom door
... See more
I find this very moving:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jul/23/death-and-detergents-spanish-poet-sets-hospital-laundry-work-to-verse

Extract: 23 March 2020, The Shrouds Are Piling Up in Cardboard Boxes
The shrouds are piling up in cardboard boxes
by the bathroom door

They’re the only hospital linen
that isn’t washed after use

Like everything else these days
they come in plastic,
ready to meet death like factory-baked goods,
wrapped and straight to the void

You wonder who makes the shrouds
what cold machine sews and packs them
ready to cover any of the bodies that lie in the morgue

For my shroud I’d like my mother’s hands, to die before her
and to lie once more in her womb,
to be a little girl again and have no idea
that in hospital laundries
death piles up in cardboard boxes
next to the toilets.

(From Laundry Service by Begoña M Rueda, published by Hiperión) ▲ Collapse


Tom in London
expressisverbis
 
Baran Keki
Baran Keki  Identity Verified
Türkiye
Local time: 21:43
Member
English to Turkish
Kipling Jul 28, 2021

I don't care much for poetry, but I just came across this while researching for something completely different. It kind of puts things into perspective regarding education costs if you happen to be an imperialist in some third world sh*thole carrying the 'white man's burden'. Very moving indeed...

Arithmetic on the Frontier

A GREAT and glorious thing it is
To learn, for seven years or so,
The Lord knows what of that and this,
Ere reckoned fit to face t... See more
I don't care much for poetry, but I just came across this while researching for something completely different. It kind of puts things into perspective regarding education costs if you happen to be an imperialist in some third world sh*thole carrying the 'white man's burden'. Very moving indeed...

Arithmetic on the Frontier

A GREAT and glorious thing it is
To learn, for seven years or so,
The Lord knows what of that and this,
Ere reckoned fit to face the foe -
The flying bullet down the Pass,
That whistles clear: "All flesh is grass."

Three hundred pounds per annum spent
On making brain and body meeter
For all the murderous intent
Comprised in "villainous saltpetre".
And after?- Ask the Yusufzaies
What comes of all our 'ologies.

A scrimmage in a Border Station-
A canter down some dark defile
Two thousand pounds of education
Drops to a ten-rupee jezail.
The Crammer's boast, the Squadron's pride,
Shot like a rabbit in a ride!

No proposition Euclid wrote
No formulae the text-books know,
Will turn the bullet from your coat,
Or ward the tulwar's downward blow.
Strike hard who cares - shoot straight who can
The odds are on the cheaper man.

One sword-knot stolen from the camp
Will pay for all the school expenses
Of any Kurrum Valley scamp
Who knows no word of moods and tenses,
But, being blessed with perfect sight,
Picks off our messmates left and right.

With home-bred hordes the hillsides teem.
The troopships bring us one by one,
At vast expense of time and steam,
To slay Afridis where they run.
The "captives of our bow and spear"
Are cheap, alas! as we are dear. ▲ Collapse


P.L.F. Persio
expressisverbis
 
Pages in topic:   < [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10]


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
NancyLynn[Call to this topic]
Maria Castro[Call to this topic]
Fernanda Rocha[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poetry Corner: Do you have any favourite poems? If so, share them here!







Wordfast Pro
Translation Memory Software for Any Platform

Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users! Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value

Buy now! »
TM-Town
Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business

Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.

More info »