English Poems To Translate to Pali for Intermediate Learners ?

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namyoho
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English Poems To Translate to Pali for Intermediate Learners ?

Post by namyoho »

I was trying to translate some of Robert Frost's shorter poems and found them quite difficult.

I would appreciate suggestions for some other poems (preferably shorter ones) that I could try to translate.

This is for me personally only, I am not doing any research.

Thank you :)
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Coëmgenu
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Re: English Poems To Translate to Pali for Intermediate Learners ?

Post by Coëmgenu »

Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing—
Wasn't that a dainty dish
To set before the king?

You just need to learn how to say "sixpence," "rye," "pocket," "blackbird," "pie," and "dainty." :thinking:

Nursery rhymes that don't use too many playful nonsense words are likely your best bet.

Another idea is to literally translate English storybooks for children, like "Rosie's Walk."
What is the Uncreated?
Sublime & free, what is that obscured Eternity?
It is the Undying, the Bright, the Isle.
It is an Ocean, a Secret: Reality.
Both life and oblivion, it is Nirvāṇa.
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Dhammanando
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Re: English Poems To Translate to Pali for Intermediate Learners ?

Post by Dhammanando »

I agree with Coëmgenu, it's best to start with something a little less ambitious than Robert Frost.

HUMPTY DUMPTY

Humpati Dumpati kuḍḍe nisīdati,
Humpati Dumpati kuḍḍā opatati

Sabbe rañño assā sabbe rañño mantī,
Humpatim paṭisaṅkharituṃ na sakkonti.

But if you really must start with Frost, I'd suggest Fire and Ice as a relatively easier one to start with...

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Yena yena hi maññanti,
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.


In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)
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Assaji
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Re: English Poems To Translate to Pali for Intermediate Learners ?

Post by Assaji »

Dhammanando wrote: Thu Oct 21, 2021 9:29 am HUMPTY DUMPTY

Humpati Dumpati kuḍḍe nisīdati,
Humpati Dumpati kuḍḍā opatati

Sabbe rañño assā sabbe rañño mantī,
Humpatim paṭisaṅkharituṃ na sakkonti.
:goodpost:
BreBreeze
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Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2021 9:40 am

Re: English Poems To Translate to Pali for Intermediate Learners ?

Post by BreBreeze »

Dhammanando wrote: Thu Oct 21, 2021 9:29 am
HUMPTY DUMPTY

Humpati Dumpati kuḍḍe nisīdati,
Humpati Dumpati kuḍḍā opatati

Sabbe rañño assā sabbe rañño mantī,
Humpatim paṭisaṅkharituṃ na sakkonti.

:jumping: :clap:
Made me giggle Bhante.
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