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bad translation 1 min read

it was said

This poem is widely known, much praised, and probably parodied more than any other. If you’re poetry literate, you’ll probably recognize the poem right away.


It was said

I don’t eat
the peach
It is
inside
the fridge

what
it can
Therefore
do the country

I’m sorry
delicious
forever dear
And very personable


This poem has been translated thusly:

english > arabic > igbo > portuguese > dutch > mecedonian > cantonese > punjabi > english


Original:

This Is Just To Say

by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold