Giv shelteh to too peopew
who of been walkin' real fah
we caym from "this poiwnt fowehd"
on ouwah way to "oveh deyah."
Lettusin!
De geese gow walkin' baehfoots
You cood say we'eh buhds of a fedeh.
Ouweh hous stands out in deh dahkness
in deh same stohmy wehdeh.
Lettusin!
We hav a hows oveh yondeh
an' yoo can beleev itsa manshun.
De walls ah thick wid the howlinest wind
an' deh rooms ah roofed wid rain.
Lettusin!
Sho', you can coun'onit.
you can even ask mah dahwteh.
she ain't got no udeh paren,
and she cant tawk no hee'ah.
Lettusin!
By Johannes V. Jensen (1901)
Translated from the Danish by Kevin O'Donnell, 2009
The original poem uses non-standard spelling to convey an accent from southern Jutland and, furthermore, of an itinerant homeless person. My translation does not try to convey any particular dialect, but a mixture of English language variations. It's just a puzzle that you have to read. Use your vocal chords!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
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