dVerse — Lost in Translation — Twisted

Image result for hell painting
“Heaven and Hell” by Sergio Arcos

I am choosing the first poem, by Desanka Maksimović, to interpret. Desanka’s poem:

Migratory Birds

Through night and moisture
wild geese go south
crying in painful glory.

I feel like writing
a dark story:
Them carrying away
on their two white wings
I don’t know where,
I don’t know what
of my soul’s dearest things.

 

My interpretation:

Twisted

Warped by foul globe’s spin,
I wail I’m alive even as I bleed out.
My soul travels to new places…
Into a dark crevasse, blind,
Mind twisted vine,
Unsure whether to crawl
Up or down
A dreamless sleep.

 

 

Laura is the host of dVerse today.  Laura says:
The Poetics Challenge here is to select ONE of the poems and write your own interpretation – what the poem conjures for you, what personal feelings it touches on. You may want to use the title or make use of some of the words or just try to keep the flavour of the poem.  After all, the originals were not in English – but that is the point – we can get lost in the translation!

29 Comments Add yours

  1. I love how you found your migration in that sleep… soon going to find my wings of dreams.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Bjorn, and may you glide on warm currents as you do.

      Like

  2. wow! this is almost a dark night of the soul carried on night migratory wings – thank you for joining in with the prompt

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Laura and thank you for the prompt.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Beverly Crawford's avatar Beverly Crawford says:

    You went to a dark place with this one. Eloquently hopeless!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Beverly. To me, the first stanza sets a dark tone and the rest emphasizes it.

      Like

  4. Lisa, this is brilliant! Very well done. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Susan, thank you so much.

      Like

  5. Beautiful with its darkness!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks Linda.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Glenn A. Buttkus's avatar Glenn A. Buttkus says:

    I love any poem with “crevasse” in it.I like it when you turn to the dark side.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      I almost misspelled it! Glad you understand about the dark side.

      Like

  7. calmkate's avatar calmkate says:

    like it, topical with our climate change it does impact our psyche!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Kate.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. robtkistner's avatar robtkistner says:

    Powerful interpretation LISA, and you hit right to the essence — excellent!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Rob, thank you for seeing it.

      Like

  9. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    You’ve captured the atmosphere of the poem. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, K. That part about the wings carrying away things filled me with dread.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. rothpoetry's avatar rothpoetry says:

    I love your dark story of a twisted dreams! The geese will carry it away with their honking in the morning light!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      lol something like that. Let’s hope.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Excellent! Our mind can certainly take us to dark places.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      This was my interpretation of the poem, but you’re right my mind doesn’t need much encouragement.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. kim881's avatar kim881 says:

    I am familiar with migration in dreamless sleep and the uncertainty of whether to crawl up or down that mind-twisted vine. You’ve captured it well, Jade!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you for the compliment, Kim. I’m sorry you’re familiar with it.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. pvcann's avatar pvcann says:

    I especially like “my soul travels to new places.” ever seeking, ever becoming.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      I wondered what you would think about this one.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. rothpoetry's avatar rothpoetry says:

    I really like this! …I am alive as I bleed out;;;; great image!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks Dwight :)

      Liked by 1 person

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