Peter J. King
Polyglottal Stops
| This is a sort of Theme and Variations; the first poem is the theme, being taken from a sequence (A Journey) that alternates autobiographical poems and more general or abstract poems. I took the original, and put it through Google Translate, “translating” it into one language, from that into another, and so on. After every five or six transitions, I translated it back into English, and recorded the result. This is what was produced: an odd narrative in which we are led (often perplexingly) further and further from the starting point. P.J.K.: December, 2020 |
Peter J. King was born and brought up in Boston, Lincolnshire. He was active on the London poetry scene in the 1970s, returning to poetry in 2013. His work (including translations from German and modern Greek poetry, the latter in collaboration with Andrea Christofidou) has since been widely published in magazines and anthologies. His currently available collections are Adding Colours to the Chameleon (Wisdom’s Bottom Press) and All What Larkin (Albion Beatnik Press).Theme
winter winds
were almost solid
forming barriers between the school and me
or walls for me to lean against
or wild and wickedly capricious sprites
that waited for my guard to drop
to pick me up and plop me in the frigid water
of the grey Maud Foster Drain
pecked by swans
and tangled in the ribbon weed
then swept on under Bargate Bridge
and past the still-sailed windmill
past the school
to haunts of vole and kingfisher
and chilly easeVariations I.
Winter winds
There was no major damage
This creates barriers between us and the school
Or sloping walls
Or wild and angry whimsical spirits
He waited for my guard to fall
Take me and dive into cold water
Educate a gray maid
Swansea Peck
The tape was stuck in the grass
Then he crossed the Bargate Bridge
The ship is still sailing
School ended
For outdoor mouse and sea fisherman
And coldII.
Cold winds
There was no major damage
This creates barriers between us and the school
Or slope walls
Or wild spirits and creative rage
He was waiting for my guard to fall
Take me and immerse me in cold water
Come with the gray maid
Swansea Beach
The tape was stuck in the grass
He then crossed the Bargate Bridge
The ship is still under construction
School is over
For outdoor rats and marine fishermen
And calledIII.
Cold wind
No significant damage was reported
This creates barriers between us and the school
Reverse wall
Wild ο wild souls and creative wrath
Wait for my guard to fall
I’ll take it and soak it in cold water
Join the Gray Girl
Sanctuary Beach
Tapped in the tap
He crossed the Bargate Bridge
The ship is still under construction
The school is too much
For outdoor mice and fishermen at sea
And a professionIV.
Cold weather
No major damage was reported
This creates barriers between us and the school
Changing the wall
Wild spirits and evil creatures
Wait until my guard falls
I took it and put it in cold water
Join the gray girl
Holy beach
Press one tap
He crossed the Bridge Bridge
The boat is also under construction
The school is crowded
For rats and fishermen overseas
ActivitiesV.
It’s freezing
No major damage was reported
This creates a barrier between us and the school
Change the wall
Wild spirits and evil creatures
Wait till my guard falls
I take it and put it in cold water
Enter the ashes girl
Sacred beaches
Click on the tap
He crossed the bridge from bridge to bridge
The boat is under construction
School is full
For rats and foreign fishermen
workVI.
It’s cold
No major damage was reported
This creates a barrier between us and the school
Replace the wall
Wild Spirits and Evil Creatures
Wait for my crew to arrive
I’ll take it and put it in cold water
Enter the country direction
Sacred beaches
Click Find
He goes from bridge to bridge
The ship is being built
The school is full
For open and open fishermen
workVII.
the weather is cold
No problem with dehydration
This creates a barrier between us and the school.
Replace the wall
Evil spirits and evil creatures
Wait for my team to arrive
I’ll take it and put it in cold water
Enter the urban road
The river is sacred
Click Search
Moves from bed to bed
The ship is being built
The book is full
For open and open hunters
the workVIII.
cold weather
There is no problem with drying
This creates a barrier between us and the school.
Wall replacement
Evil spirits and demons
Wait until my group arrives
I took it and put it in cold water
Into the city street
Sacred river
Click Search
Go from bed to bed
They are building the ship
The book is full
For open and open hunters
workIX.
The air is cool
There is no problem with drying
This makes school break.
new wall
Evil ghosts and monsters
Wait for your group to arrive
Set aside
On the streets of the city;
Spiritual River
click Search
Bed
He is building a boat
His book is full
In fact, the opening and opening of hunters,
workX.
The weather is great
Drying is not a problem
This will destroy the school.
New wall
Demons and monsters
Wait for your team to arrive
Sleep next to you
On the streets of the city;
Spiritual rivers
Click Search
Idol
He built the ship
The book is full
Truly, the Saviour opened,
CreateXI.
The weather is good
Drought is not a problem
It will ruin the school.
dawn
Demons and demons
Wait until the team arrives.
Sleep next to you
On the streets of the city
Spiritual river
Click Search
Idol
He built a boat
This book is complete
There really is a Saviour
Build
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