3 poems by Daniel Ari

3 Translytics after Tom Ze
(Note: a translytic poem interprets a foreign text on the basis of sound.)


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"Voce Inventa"

The voice invents riches
The voice invents, “Ah!”
The voice invents change
and invents, “Oy!”
The voice invented Louisiana, and wishes
The voice invents love and invents loneliness.
The voice invents love and invents loneliness.

The voice invented the law
and obedience
The voice invented God
and forgetfulness
The voice invents papayas and asthma
The voice invented Pez
The voice invented all things,
then other lives.
The voice invents a song of resignation.
The voice invents a God that’s sick of being here.
My God,
God is sick.

The voice invents grease
The voice invents, “Ah!”
The voice invents challenge
and invents, “Oy!”
The voice invented Louisiana, and wishes
The voice invents love and invents loneliness.
The voice invents love and invents loneliness.

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"Hein"

Hey! Hey! Hey!

She says no.
Never tells me so.

My fizz dissipates.

What?
Forget about it…

Hey!
She says go this way.
Look out!

My wishes dissolve.
Hallelujah.

Hey!
My wishes disappear.

Hey! Hey! Hey!

She says no.
Never tells me so.

My fizz disintegrates.

What?
Forget about it…

Hey! Hey! Hey!

And the hippie
Oh, colorful Victorian legend...
Destitute—Hey!
Hairy legs—Hey!
Gritty hair—Hey!
Milky Way—Hey!

What can I do?
I’m disgusted!
She’s pegged me.
Sold my sighs.
deaf to my cries...
Blah, blah, blah...
Whisper, whisper...
Legalese, legalese...

She says no.
Never tells me so.

My fizz desiccates.

What?
Forget about it…

Hey!
She says go this way.
Look out!

My wishes destroyed.
Hallelujah.

Hey!
My wishes discontinued.

Hey! Hey! Hey! (etc.)

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"Complexo De Épico"

The entire complex of Brazil…
The entire composition of Brazil is complex.
The entire composition of the Brazilian complex comprises further ado
where who has the money and when,
dying, and preoccupied with falling,
how service serves service,
depends on serrated serviettes, severing themselves,
shredding confetti service,
Eddie the Yeti,
at the Department of City Sentience, said it,
said, “God was seriously sick when God made Brazil.”

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