See below hopefully improved version, layout-wise. The language in
question, by the way, is from the of the language of the Pruzzen
(Baltic Prussians more or less from the area of present-day Lithuania) -
which died out in the 18th C.
MJ Walker wrote:
> The following is for you, Alison - vale atque ave (I believe there is
> an existent translation of this, but cannot check as I don't possess
> it - I trust that mine is sufficiently different to re-illuminate the
> original).
>
> Defunct language
>
> The one beating his wings
> outside, grazing the door,
> that is your brother, you hear him.
>
> *Laurio* he says, water,
> curved, colourless, deep.
>
>
> That came down with the river,
> drifting round mussel and
> snail, a fanshaped plant,
> in the sand and was green.
>
>
> *Warne* he says and *wittan*,
> the crow has no tree,
> I have the power to kiss you,
> I live in your ear.
>
>
> Tell him you don't
> want to hear him -
> he comes, an otter, he comes
> hornetswarming, he screeches,
> a cricket, he grows with the moor
> under your house, whispering
> in the springs, *smordis* you hear,
> your black dogwood will wither,
> it will die on the fence tomorrow.
>
>
> Johannes Bobrowski "Gestorbene Sprache"
>
>
--
One must be prepared for a piece of music which is laden with symbols: bells, Poltergeist knocks and grotesque figues. Kasper Rofelt.
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