Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)
I was excited to get a new edition of Snowman-Cold=Puddle on my doorstep last week! This one is a Simplified Chinese edition published by Yilin Press in China.
They kept the English title on the cover because it’s part of the art (I assume that’s why). I was curious to know which of the cover text had the title in Chinese, so Randy used Google Translate to read the cover. It translated the Chinese version of the title as:
HEAVY PEOPLE – SEVERE COLD = QUAGMIRE
Isn’t that awesome? Just Google Translate’s version, and not sure how the title actually comes across to a native Chinese speaker. But I love this twist on it.
This also made me think of National Poetry Month. I am feeling extremely overwhelmed lately with writing and work commitments, and I want my National Poetry Month commitment to be something to look forward to so I’m going small. I’m going to write an equation poem each day. I might try to do them on photos or images of some kind, like:
Photo: Randy Salas
We’ll see what I’ve got the time and energy for. But I’ll be sharing them daily here on my blog and on social media (I’m LauraPSalas on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). I’ll use the hashtags #NationalPoetryMonth #NPM #EquationPoem I’d love to have you follow along or join in, too, either you or your students! Feel free to comment with them here or post online with the #EquationPoem hashtag. I’m feeling really enthusiastic about this, so I think I’ve made the right choice!
For lots more wonderful poetry right now, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with poet, educator, and birthday woman Heidi Mordhorst!
Congratulations on the new edition, Laura. I love the translation. One of my books Head Hog was translated in Chinese. I asked a Chinese speaking student what the title was, and they told me it was ‘Big Old Pig’ which made me smile, though not as wonderful as your translation. Your equation poem and photo amazed me. I have never ever seen snow in real life, so to see your cloud forming in the cold air amazed me!
Big Old Pig–love it! You can only make a cloud when it’s at least 20 belowish (Fahrenheit), I think. Could’ve done it again this winter, but we didn’t. But that’s only the second time I’ve done it. It is the coolest thing. I love snow–it’s just a miracle to me. I grew up in Florida, where it’s extremely hot, and I’m thrilled to live where we have four seasons!
That translation is astonishing and so encapsulates the “now” of things! I cannot imagine writing an equation poem each day but if anyone can, it’s you, Laura. The one here with that photo couldn’t be better, or more joyful – there’s energy and overcoming in it.
Fran, you absolutely could write one every day! I mean, creating the exact juicy ones for the book took a long time of writing, weeding, revising, etc. But a just-for-fun equation poem is actually really easy to do (and hard to stop doing once you start). Thanks for the kind words!
Oh, I love that–quagmire! I use Google Translate all. the. time. now, and I see that in the last year it has really improved, at least for Spanish, but it would be fun to see what happens when translating more poetry. In fact, you may have given me an idea for MY April project. Love yours too! And now, “Them Heavy People”: https://open.spotify.com/track/1eN1L9mXLFepXpMJNSQng8?si=sfOTV7oOToeQCKgyEEybhA
Don’t have Spotify, but Randy and I are big Kate Bush fans (though I admit this isn’t one of my favorites of hers). This made me laugh! Can’t wait to see your NPM project!
I love the translation, especially of “heavy people”, Laura, but the best thing is that it’s been translated. That’s great! And it will be fun to read (& see) those equations in April. Enjoy the weekend, imagining it’ll be cold as we have lots of snow coming!
I’m looking forward to your project! And I love the QUAGMIRE!
Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
How exciting to have your book moving around our planet! Love your cloud poem-equation and pic, and looking forward to more, thanks Laura!
Laura, it is awesome and congratulations! I have and love your Snowman – Cold = Puddle! I love your new equation poem and your photo. I am looking forward to your new equation poems.
I’m in with daily, small, simple–or what I’m up to. But, most importantly, look forward to! Your equation made me smile. I was so overwhelmed this week that I grumped in a voice message to a friend who wisely sent me a few minutes of singing bird song and just a couple of soothing words back. Take heart, you don’t have to do all the things….being you and hearing the birds is important too.
I love the translation the Chinese came up with! The heavier the people, the more the quagmire. So funny and interesting. Your equations are entertaining and informative science bites and I’ll see what I can contribute. Thanks
Love that you are already thinking about projects for Poetry Month! That cloud picture is a wonderful capture!
I love the Google translation–what fun! I look forward to reading your equation poems. I’m still pondering what to do next month, but I might have to join in with an equation or two.
So great to see the Chinese edition. Congratulations! and what a fun and funny translation. 🙂
Oh, that’s a very fun translation! How wonderful that so many more kids will be enjoying your Snowman-Puddle book. And I LOVE that photo. Equation poems sound like the perfect project! L:ooking forward to it. :0) Happy Rest of the Weekend….
I’m with you on needing a smallish NPM project. I was thinking haiku, but maybe I’ll join you for equation poems!
The translation of the title is awesome! And congrats on getting your book published in Chinese, too!!
I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed by life at the moment and haven’t decided what to do (if anything) for National Poetry Month–but I love your idea of writing equation poems (and your poem and photo, too).
That translation is fabulous. I can’t imagine how awesome it must feel to have a Chinese edition of your book in your own two hands. Congratulations! I celebrate your “going small” for NPM. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your equation poems!