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READIN
READIN started out as a place for me
to keep track of what I am reading, and to learn (slowly, slowly)
how to design a web site.
There has been some mission drift
here and there, but in general that's still what it is. Some of
the main things I write about here are
reading books,
listening to (and playing) music, and
watching the movies. Also I write about the
work I do with my hands and with my head; and of course about bringing up Sylvia.
The site is a bit of a work in progress. New features will come on-line now and then; and you will occasionally get error messages in place of the blog, for the forseeable future. Cut me some slack, I'm just doing it for fun! And if you see an error message you think I should know about, please drop me a line. READIN source code is PHP and CSS, and available on request, in case you want to see how it works.
See my reading list for what I'm interested in this year.
READIN has been visited approximately 236,737 times since October, 2007.
posted evening of Thursday, September 20th, 2012 ➳ More posts about Poetry ➳ More posts about Writing Projects ➳ More posts about Projects ➳ More posts about Translation ➳ More posts about Language
O worthy Translator, please translate my longings and desires
and cunning
O cunning man
tell me my meaning, oh
please tell me what I must be
Translator: translate me with ill intent, and let the misfit lines ring out for themselves. Twist my intentions, the intentions of these figures on the page which cannot wish. Destroy my author, deny my author; negate my author. Translator: be my accomplice. Together let us sow the seeds of misunderstanding, and let grow the ghastly tree of crippled poetry. Translator: I'm begging you, mutilate me. Mutilate me and let me flow into foreign eyes and ears.
Digame usted el cuento lo que le he dicho. Acentuar pasajes y imágenes que le han afectado, que le a más bueno, más verdadero han sonado. Incorporar hasta elementos que yo no le he dado a usted, sino otros textos -- y de repente que se siente cerca de aquÃ, entre las palabras y las bromas de mis antepasados. Lo siento: esto le debo declarar a usted, mi lealtad inseguro, mi impasibilidad imperecedero.
When I say I want myself translated I'm never sure just what I'm saying...
Tell me the story I told you. Can focus on the passages, the images that rang most sweet and true to you; can go so far as using bits I've never given you, from other texts -- (suddenly it feels close in here, among the words and wit of all who've come before me). I apologize: I have to tell you, to declare my insecure fealty, my eternal impassivity.
Might I remind you of all that went in Modesto so far back, when we were kids? I know well how much you depend on not remembering it, as your method of weathering the long, monotonous day... GarcÃa Márquez wants you (and this is before I ever wanted it) to include here some reference to rape, to shame unforgotten. And usually you listen to him.
Entonces violación. Es violado, se siente usted violado. Que no tenga ninguno espacio personal y protegido, seguro frente a las excreciones inÃmicas. Se sube en el auto y cerra la puerta del pasajero y limpia el sudor de su frente. Vuelve la cabeza y sus ojos se encuentran con los de Marisol, los ojos grandes y profundos de Marisol. Ella gira la llave del contacto y escucha usted el motor.
Digame usted el cuento lo que le he dicho. Acentúe pasajes y imágenes que le han afectado, que le a más bueno, más verdadero han sonado. Incorpore hasta elementos que yo no le he dado a usted, sino otros textos -- y de repente que se siente cerca de aquÃ, entre las palabras y las bromas de mis antepasados. Lo siento: esto le debo declarar a usted, mi lealtad insegura, mi impasibilidad imperecedera.
Usted sonrÃa. -- Por supuesto, vamos a Denny's. -- Atardece y la noche de verano empeza a oscurecerse. Vuelve otra vez a ella y está a punto de decir algo más, pero gira ya en el parking.