WoPoLi

Lost in Translation /Zulu/ Missing From Translation

Lost in Translation /Zulu/ Missing From Translation

If I exist /Shona/ when I am there
in a language that is not my own /Lao/
in a language that doesn’t belong to you
if I speak in translation /Xhosa/
when I’m talking about translation
do I remain myself /Kazakh/ a thousand puns
or do I become foreign /Shona /if I am a foreigner?

This new form was fun to create. It takes two seperate browsers open to auto translations, the poor quality ones will have the most impact. You take your written poem and translate it into a foriegn langauge. State the language in the poem between / … / then take the exact translation into the other browser and translate it back to english. This completes the first line. Then take that line and do the same for the second line. Do so until you are satisfied with the outcome. This gives the poem a unique yet themed feel, usually. Make sure you use seperat translators like google and bing.

Allow yourself to be flexible. Add a line and repeat the translation. let the experiment move the poem along and allow your creative edge to shape the outcome. Here is one written in a simular way.

Into the darkness /Ossetic/

Into Darkness To Talyng /Swahilli/Entering the Darkness Towards Talyng—
A word shaped like a doorway /Bangla/ A word that is like the size of a door./Konkani/
It’s the same size as the door!/Iban/
And yet I can not cross the threshold into the darkness

/Kokborok/Arw Oblabw I’m going to be happy!
/Marathi/And yet, a legitimate desire can cross the threshold in that dark period.

Leave a comment

From the blog

About the Author: Sarah B. Royal

Sarah B. Royal’s writing defies convention. Her poetry and prose traverse the boundaries between structure and spontaneity, often weaving together philosophical inquiry, cultural reflection, and personal narrative. With a background in experimental literature, she is known for crafting works that challenge readers to engage intellectually and emotionally.

Her acclaimed palindrome performance play, 777 – A Story of Idol Worship and Murder, showcases her fascination with mirrored storytelling and thematic symmetry. In o x ∞ = ♥: The Poet and The Mathematician, Royal explores the intersection of poetic intuition and mathematical logic, revealing a unique voice that is both analytical and lyrical.

Royal’s collections—such as Lost in the Lost and Found, Haiku For You, Lantern and Tanka Too, and the WoPoLi Chapbook Series—highlight her commitment to neurodivergent expression and poetic experimentation. Whether through childhood verse or contemporary fusion poetry, her work invites readers into a world where language is both a tool and a playground.

Sarah B. Royal continues to expand the possibilities of poetic form, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. Her writing is a testament to the power of creative risk, intellectual depth, and emotional authenticity.

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started