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in the nursing home
she talks about the brother
no one talks about
dans la maison de retraite
elle parle de le frère*
dont personne ne parle
she talks about the brother
no one talks about
dans la maison de retraite
elle parle de le frère*
dont personne ne parle
First published in Temps Libre; French translation by Serge Tome
*I have posted this as it appears in the original translation. Both I and many visitors feel it should be "elle parle du frere."
*I have posted this as it appears in the original translation. Both I and many visitors feel it should be "elle parle du frere."
posted by Bill | 6:49 AM
11 Comments:
a 5-7-5-er, and a good one at that!
as far as my french goes, de+le should be contracted into du, so i'd render L2 as:
"elle parle du frere"
(but who am i to argue with a native speaker if i can't even find the accented e on my keyboard)
I like this haiku, Bill. I think it is very sad, great, authentic. I love the French version, too. I have been learning French recently. When I started I did not know it would be so difficult :) But this is very good exercise for any brain (I have no particular problems so far :)
Best regards. Iris
That's how I'd do it, too, Polona. But I don't presume to correct the translator, who is Belgian (Does that make a difference?)
If you do find that key, tell me where to look.
Most families unfortunately have a member that one one mentions? Elegantly put Bill...
Lovely. Perhaps one of the consolations of old age is being allowed to mention the unmentionable?
Yes, a very touching haiku, Bill. As for the french translation, Polona is absolutely right (and I'm sure Serge Tomé'will agree without hesitation !)
à la maison de retraite (or : maison de repos, or : clinique)
elle parle du frère
dont personne ne parle
Thanks for those thoughtful comments, Frank and Jem.
Thanks, Monika. I guess we are all agreed on "du."
love it Bill
john
A splendid one !
Write :
"elle parle du frère",
it's better. Thanks for this good haïku.
Excellent!
I would also have thought de + le = du but maybe they do it differently in Belgium....
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