We haven’t done one of these for a while, but since I’ve been under the weather and haven’t posted anything for a bit I decided to do some Babelfish poetry again.
We take a well known poem or literature passage, then we translate it into a randomly chosen language via Babelfish, then back into English, then you tell me what it is.
This time the language was Dutch and it should be easy peasy one two threesy for you:
Postponed dream
What happens to a postponed dream?
Does it baste on
as a raisin in the sun?
Or ulcer as a painful spot—
And course then?
Does it stink as rots flesh?
Or crust and sugar—
as a ropy candy?
Perhaps only it subsides
as a heavy cargo.
Or does it explode?
Dream Deferred, by Hughes
(easy peasey)
Told ya.
Dream Deferred
Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?