This is day 3 of the December Open Write with Dr. Sarah Donovan's Ethical ELA. Today's inspiration was offered by Glenda Funk, and introduced poetry by Don Mee Choi. Here is the challenge that Glenda Funk proposed:
Today I’d like us to think of ourselves as translators and find inspiration in the belief we, like Choi, can “witness and resist” through translation. In DMZ Colony Choi gives voice to orphans, political prisoners, and other survivors of war. We can choose to “translate” what we witness in our world. I took my inspiration both from reading some of Choi’s poetry I found online and from the recent debate over a local high school mascot.
- Choose a subject for translation
- Find inspiration in an image or text.
- Think of yourself as a translator, a witness, a reporter
- Compose and share your poem.
I really liked the idea of writing poetry from the perspective of a translator - to me, with this point of view, I am both stepping back from the topic and getting closer. However, truth be told, I simply wasn't up to attempting a 'serious' poem - I decided to go much lighter, channeling the voice of my favorite English-language learner, who translates and narrates the world for me these days . . . my two year old granddaughter.
The Christmas Tree
tree nana see living room
kiss-miss touch gentle
lights on see
off on off on off on no more
what’s this one
angel see take off see
hook see careful hurt hook
hold on table put here here
what’s this one
snowman
red hat nose stick
what’s this one
bell ring ring ring
beads beads no eat
what’s this one
star gentle glass break
no break nana
nother one nana
person paper person
i like paper person
see big angel up high
small angel see
nother one nother one nother one nana
angel angel angel i see angel
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