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
| How to Paint a Bird’s Portrait (and something about scissors) | Dec 12, 2020 |
Maybe I have misunderstood Jan’s poem, but I cannot fathom why it has been taken down. Was it supposed to be read backwards? I am definitely missing something here… It’s not rock, paper, scissors we’ve been playing, have we. All I know is that, when I read it, it made me remember a quite inoffensive French poem, which I am now adding here reluctantly and with some apprehension. Please don’t put poems in a cage … cut their wings … or anythin... See more Maybe I have misunderstood Jan’s poem, but I cannot fathom why it has been taken down. Was it supposed to be read backwards? I am definitely missing something here… It’s not rock, paper, scissors we’ve been playing, have we. All I know is that, when I read it, it made me remember a quite inoffensive French poem, which I am now adding here reluctantly and with some apprehension. Please don’t put poems in a cage … cut their wings … or anything of the sort. What's the worse they can do? Sing? How to Paint a Bird’s Portrait Paint first a cage with the door open next paint something pretty something simple something lovely something of use to the bird then put the canvas near a tree in a garden in the woods or in a forest hide behind the tree say nothing don’t move… Sometimes the bird comes quickly but it can just as well take many years before deciding Don’t be disheartened wait wait years if need be the pace of the bird’s arrival bearing no relation to the success of the painting When the bird comes if it comes keep very still wait for the bird to enter the cage and once it has gently shut the door with the brush then paint out the bars one by one taking care not to touch any of the bird’s feathers Next paint the tree’s portrait choosing the loveliest of its branches for the bird paint likewise the green leaves and fresh breeze the sun’s scintillation and the clamor of crickets in the heat of summer and then wait until the bird decides to sing If the bird does not sing that’s a bad sign A sign the painting is no good but if it sings that’s a good sign a sign you can sign so you gently pluck one of the bird’s feathers and write your name in a corner of the painting. translated from the French by Jacqueline Michaud Pour faire le portrait d’un oiseau Peindre d’abord une cage Avec une porte ouverte Peindre ensuite Quelque chose de joli Quelque chose de simple Quelque chose de beau Quelque chose d’utile pour l’oiseau Placer ensuite la toile contre un arbre Dans un jardin Dans un bois Ou dans une forêt Se cacher derrière l’arbre Sans rien dire Sans bouger Parfois l’oiseau arrive vite Mais il peut aussi bien mettre de longues années Avant de se décider Ne pas se décourager Attendre Attendre s’il le faut pendant des années La vitesse ou la lenteur de l’arrivée de l’oiseau N’ayant aucun rapport Avec la réussite du tableau Quand l’oiseau arrive S’il arrive Observer le plus profond silence Attendre que l’oiseau entre dans la cage Et quand il est entré Fermer doucement la porte avec le pinceau Puis Effacer un à un tous les barreaux En ayant soin de ne toucher aucune des plumes de l’oiseau Faire ensuite le portrait de l’arbre En choisissant la plus belle de ses branches Pour l’oiseau Peindre aussi le vert feuillage et la fraîcheur du vent La poussière du soleil Et le bruit des bêtes de l’herbe dans la chaleur de l’été Et puis attendre que l’oiseau se décide à chanter Si l’oiseau ne chante pas C’est mauvais signe Signe que le tableau est mauvais Mais s’il chante c’est bon signe Signe que vous pouvez signer Alors vous arrachez tout doucement Une des plumes de l’oiseau Et vous écrivez votre nom dans un coin du tableau Jacques Prévert
[Edited at 2020-12-12 11:14 GMT] ▲ Collapse | | | Mervyn Henderson (X) Spain Local time: 02:50 Spanish to English + ... Jacques Prévert | Dec 12, 2020 |
That's excellent, Jean! The only one I knew by Prévert was Déjeuner du Matin, but I can see now the style is vaguely similar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MalR-e4IgAs I'm not sure the voice of the man reciting here is the best choice for this poem. The type of voice, I mean, and also because I'd always imagined a woman speaking. Maybe we're not allowed to make th... See more That's excellent, Jean! The only one I knew by Prévert was Déjeuner du Matin, but I can see now the style is vaguely similar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MalR-e4IgAs I'm not sure the voice of the man reciting here is the best choice for this poem. The type of voice, I mean, and also because I'd always imagined a woman speaking. Maybe we're not allowed to make that kind of assumption any more, though.
[Edited at 2020-12-12 13:05 GMT] ▲ Collapse | | | expressisverbis Portugal Local time: 01:50 Member (2015) English to Portuguese + ... To honour friendship: | Dec 12, 2020 |
Amigo Aprendiz Quero ser o teu amigo. Nem demais e nem de menos. Nem tão longe e nem tão perto. Na medida mais precisa que eu puder. Mas, amar-te sem medida e ficar na tua vida, da maneira mas discreta que eu souber. Sem tirar-te a liberdade, sem jamais te sufocar, sem forçar a tua vontade, sem falar, quando for hora de calar. Sem calar, quando for hora de falar. Nem ausente, nem presente por demais. Simplesmente, calmam... See more Amigo Aprendiz Quero ser o teu amigo. Nem demais e nem de menos. Nem tão longe e nem tão perto. Na medida mais precisa que eu puder. Mas, amar-te sem medida e ficar na tua vida, da maneira mas discreta que eu souber. Sem tirar-te a liberdade, sem jamais te sufocar, sem forçar a tua vontade, sem falar, quando for hora de calar. Sem calar, quando for hora de falar. Nem ausente, nem presente por demais. Simplesmente, calmamente, ser-te paz. É bonito ser amigo, mas confesso: é tão difícil aprender! E por isso eu te suplico paciência. Vou encher o teu rosto de lembranças. Dá-me tempo de acertar nossas distâncias. Apprentice Friend I want to be your friend. Not too much and not too little. Not so far away and not so close. As far more accurate than I can. But love you without measure and stay in your life, the way I know but discreet. Without taking the freedom, never choke you, without forcing your will. let alone when it's time to shut up. It is not silent, when it's time to talk. Or absent, or present too. Simply, quietly, be your peace. It's nice to be friend, but I confess: it's so hard to learn! And so I beg you patience. I will fill your face with memories. Give me time to hit our distances. Fernando Pessoa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXNsuidKV6c
[Edited at 2020-12-12 14:15 GMT]
[Edited at 2020-12-12 16:41 GMT] ▲ Collapse | | | Mervyn Henderson (X) Spain Local time: 02:50 Spanish to English + ...
Lovely, too, that one. A question about Portuguese ... don't you use the upside-down question mark ¿ or exclamation mark ¡ in Portuguese, like in Spanish? I remember back in my 2nd form Spanish class the teacher told us Spanish needed that to signal that a question or an exclamation was imminent. When you're twelve, it sounds absurd that you would need to put that in, and in fact I see that a lot of Spaniards leave it out. In the last few years I've been leaving them out in e-mails to customer... See more Lovely, too, that one. A question about Portuguese ... don't you use the upside-down question mark ¿ or exclamation mark ¡ in Portuguese, like in Spanish? I remember back in my 2nd form Spanish class the teacher told us Spanish needed that to signal that a question or an exclamation was imminent. When you're twelve, it sounds absurd that you would need to put that in, and in fact I see that a lot of Spaniards leave it out. In the last few years I've been leaving them out in e-mails to customers too, but lately it struck me that there may well be a Spanish Linguistic Avenger on the prowl over here, so I've been putting them in religiously ever since. ▲ Collapse | |
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Paul Dixon Brazil Local time: 21:50 Portuguese to English + ... TOPIC STARTER No inverted question marks in PT | Dec 13, 2020 |
No, we don't use inverted exclamation marks or question marks in Portuguese (at least in Brazil). In Spanish. on the other hand, they invert question marks and exclamation marks, and also interrobangs. (An inverted interrobang is technically known as a gnaborretni, with the 'g' pronounced as in 'gnu') | | | expressisverbis Portugal Local time: 01:50 Member (2015) English to Portuguese + ... No upside-down question mark ¿ or exclamation mark in PT-PT | Dec 13, 2020 |
Mervyn Henderson wrote: Lovely, too, that one. A question about Portuguese ... don't you use the upside-down question mark ¿ or exclamation mark ¡ in Portuguese, like in Spanish? I remember back in my 2nd form Spanish class the teacher told us Spanish needed that to signal that a question or an exclamation was imminent. When you're twelve, it sounds absurd that you would need to put that in, and in fact I see that a lot of Spaniards leave it out. In the last few years I've been leaving them out in e-mails to customers too, but lately it struck me that there may well be a Spanish Linguistic Avenger on the prowl over here, so I've been putting them in religiously ever since. Many thanks, Mervyn. No, in European Portuguese we don't use it. In fact, it has some logic and Spanish are right, because in Portuguese (at least in Portugal) sometimes when reading a question or an exclamation we don't always realise and make the right intonation. | | | Woyzeck et moi | Dec 14, 2020 |
I am currently going through my old dusty texts to find some inspiration for the new creative-me trying to keep busy and productive during the quarantine we have to go through at home. Some texts are still worth sharing (other not at all). I wrote this one a long time ago, in 2013, I was not 20 yet. Here you go: Woyzeck et moi J’ai le souvenir, Woyzeck, de cette pâle étendue Porteuse d’espérances jusqu’alors perdues. Elle s’étirait loin so... See more I am currently going through my old dusty texts to find some inspiration for the new creative-me trying to keep busy and productive during the quarantine we have to go through at home. Some texts are still worth sharing (other not at all). I wrote this one a long time ago, in 2013, I was not 20 yet. Here you go: Woyzeck et moi J’ai le souvenir, Woyzeck, de cette pâle étendue Porteuse d’espérances jusqu’alors perdues. Elle s’étirait loin sous mes yeux, d’un blanc si pur. J’ai l’amour Woyzeck, de tes susurres, De tes mots tendres et vrais Du feu dans ton corps qui lentement me consumait. Je suis le diable Woyzeck. Regarde mes yeux, leur azure mensonger, C’est mon propre dégoût qui les fait secs. Moi Woyzeck, je ne sais pas pleurer. Tu as senti dans mes cheveux La puanteur impardonnable de mes torts. Et quand, sans les prononcer, je te fis mes aveux Quand ma vérité se hissa hors de ton angle mort, Tu as fait ce qu’il fallait Woyzeck, Tu as poignardé mes yeux secs. Est-ce la neige, pourpre alors, qui s’y incruste ? Qu’importe, Woyzeck, de ma vue trouble et vétuste, Des eaux ruisselantes se sont déversées, Ce sont mes pleurs que tu as libérés. ▲ Collapse | | | P.L.F. Persio Netherlands Local time: 02:50 Member (2010) English to Italian + ... Well done, Antoine! | Dec 14, 2020 |
Antoine Wicquart wrote: I am currently going through my old dusty texts to find some inspiration for the new creative-me trying to keep busy and productive during the quarantine we have to go through at home. Some texts are still worth sharing (other not at all). I wrote this one a long time ago, in 2013, I was not 20 yet. Here you go: Woyzeck et moi And you were 19 then? So you're just 27 now? You don't even know you're born! Jokes aside, I think your poem shows a maturity well beyond your years. It feels fresh though, a story old as the world, but told in a very original and – dare I say – beautiful way. More of that, please! | |
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I feel stupid... | Dec 14, 2020 |
... because I don't get the joke! I am indeed 27 now. Thank you for the kind words PLF, I will find and post some other ones the next days. Maybe new compositions, who knows? I actually won a small online contest with Woyzeck et moi, it is one of the rare ones I still enjoy reading today. | | | E.E.CUMMINGS - Who Knows If the Moon’s | Dec 14, 2020 |
who knows if the moon’s a balloon,coming out of a keen city in the sky—filled with pretty people? (and if you and i should get into it,if they should take me and take you into their baloon, why then we’d go up higher with all the pretty people than houses and steeples and clouds: go sailing away and away sailing into a keen city which nobody’s ever visited,where always it’s... See more who knows if the moon’s a balloon,coming out of a keen city in the sky—filled with pretty people? (and if you and i should get into it,if they should take me and take you into their baloon, why then we’d go up higher with all the pretty people than houses and steeples and clouds: go sailing away and away sailing into a keen city which nobody’s ever visited,where always it’s Spring)and everyone’s in love and flowers pick themselves ////////// One of my favourite poems
[Edited at 2020-12-14 18:29 GMT] ▲ Collapse | | | expressisverbis Portugal Local time: 01:50 Member (2015) English to Portuguese + ... One of my favourite poets | Dec 16, 2020 |
Love One Another Love one another, but make not a bond of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread, but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone. Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. ... See more Love One Another Love one another, but make not a bond of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread, but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone. Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together. For the pillars of the temple stand apart. And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow. Kahlil Gibran https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqZbHXYd16w ▲ Collapse | | |
I can put a poem or two of mine, but it's only in French (and I have in Greek as well, as a "true" bilingual)…
[Edited at 2020-12-17 00:19 GMT] | |
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P.L.F. Persio Netherlands Local time: 02:50 Member (2010) English to Italian + ... Allez-y, Jean! | Dec 17, 2020 |
Jean Dimitriadis wrote: I can put a poem or two of mine, but it's only in French (and I have in Greek as well, as a "true" bilingual)…
[Edited at 2020-12-17 00:19 GMT] English is not the only language. | | | Sans pleuvoir | Dec 17, 2020 |
Il pleut sans arrêt sur les toits de la ville sur les arrêts des bus sur les trottoirs qui défilent il pleut sans pitié pour les lapins que l’on pose pour les soirées que l’on noie et les fêtes que l’on arrose il pleut sans scrupules par la chambre à plein air par le ciel débridé par les trous du gruyère il pleut sans mesures dans les caisses des violoncelles dans le somme... See more Il pleut sans arrêt sur les toits de la ville sur les arrêts des bus sur les trottoirs qui défilent il pleut sans pitié pour les lapins que l’on pose pour les soirées que l’on noie et les fêtes que l’on arrose il pleut sans scrupules par la chambre à plein air par le ciel débridé par les trous du gruyère il pleut sans mesures dans les caisses des violoncelles dans le sommeil des nageurs dans la fuite des tout à l’heure il pleut à danser jusqu’aux hanches des pamplemousses à verser dans le désert des cloches à tremper du thé dans la brioche et jamais jamais l’inverse il pleut il pleut sans cesse sans aucun doute sans une goutte ▲ Collapse | | | Éternité sans cils | Dec 17, 2020 |
ils sont là. ils sont deux. ils ne se parlent pas. ils se regardent. pas comme des inconnus. pas comme s’ils se connaissaient, non plus. ils se tiennent debout, dans le silence, sans ciller. une durée indéfinissable. alors, l’un ferme les yeux. pour voir. un temps. il les rouvre. qu’est-ce qu’il voit ? devant lui, c’est lui. l’autre. étrange comment tout disparaît sous les paupières. puis, les yeux rouverts, comment tout est là de nouveau. depuis toujours, on dirait : ils sont... See more ils sont là. ils sont deux. ils ne se parlent pas. ils se regardent. pas comme des inconnus. pas comme s’ils se connaissaient, non plus. ils se tiennent debout, dans le silence, sans ciller. une durée indéfinissable. alors, l’un ferme les yeux. pour voir. un temps. il les rouvre. qu’est-ce qu’il voit ? devant lui, c’est lui. l’autre. étrange comment tout disparaît sous les paupières. puis, les yeux rouverts, comment tout est là de nouveau. depuis toujours, on dirait : ils sont là, immobiles. ils se fixent d’un œil égal. fermer les yeux n’y changera rien. cet œil qui veille. cette vue. cette vie. ombre fuyante, lumière que l’on ne peut fuir. à les voir comme ça, l’un plonger ses yeux dans le miroir, l’autre tendre son regard vers le mur blanc, on dirait une éternité figée dans l’espace d’un instant. ▲ Collapse | | | 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: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poetry Corner: Do you have any favourite poems? If so, share them here! Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
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