I can’t believe that we have made it to the end of National Poetry Month. As someone who hasn’t written poetry since high school, I am incredibly chuffed with what I have been able to achieve in 30 days.
The final NaPoWriMo prompt is to “translate” an existing poem. As I have only a (very) basic knowledge of Italian, Latin, and Ancient Greek, I decided to imagine (in my own words) the first three stanzas of the hymn, Dies Irae.
NaPoWriMo Day 30 – Translation
Deadly iris, deadly lily,
Dissolved in family seclusion,
The test of David and Sybil.
How our future trembles,
When Judas ventures forth,
Discussions keenly cut short.
We hear the brass instruments,
Playing within our tombs,
As all stand against the throne.
Dies iræ, dies illa
Solvet sæclum in favilla,
Teste David cum Sibylla.
Quantus tremor est futurus,
Quando Judex est venturus,
Cuncta stricte discussurus!
Tuba mirum spargens sonum,
Per sepulchra regionum,
Coget omnes ante thronum.