De vidste hvad de ville have

NY poesi 2

John Ashbery, igen, indleder antologien The Best American Poetry 2009, indeholdende digte udvalgt fra utallet af amerikanske litterære tidsskrifter, med dette kostelige digt (første gang trykt i London Review of Books og Vanitas):

They Knew What They Wanted

They all kissed the bride.
They all laughed.
They came from beyond space.
They came by night.

They came to a city.
They came to blow up America.
They came to rob Las Vegas.
They dare not love.

They died with their boots on.
They shoot horses don't they?
They go boom.
They got me covered.

They flew alone.
They gave him a gun.
They had just got married.
They live. They loved life.

They live by night.
They drive by night.
They knew Mr. Knight.
They were expendable.

They met in Argentina.
They met in Bombay.
They met in the dark.
They might be giants.

They made me fugitive.
They made me a criminal.
They only kill their masters.
They shall have their music.

They were sisters.
They still call me Bruce.
They won't believe me.
They won't forget.

Alle digte i antologien kommenteres til slut af digterne selv, og John Ashbery afslører, at "This poem is a collage of movie titles. I came upon it, almost fully formed [som man kan se, snyder han en smule med alfabetiseringen LB], while consulting one of Leonard Maltin's film guides one day. Suddenly a poem seemed to jump out at me."

Jeg slog op i Gyldendals filmnguide. Danske film fra A til Z for at lave en fordanskning af Ashberys digt, men ingen danske film begynder med 'De', en hel del til gengæld begynder med 'Det', ergo lyder min oversættelse således:

Det gælder os alle

Det begyndte ombord.
Det bli'r i familien.
Det bødes der for.
Det ender med bryllup.

Det er ikke appelsiner - det er heste.
Det er nat med Fru Knudsen.
Det er så synd for farmand.
Det er så yndigt at følges ad.

Det gælder din frihed.
Det gælder livet.
Det hændte i København.
Det skete på Møllegården.

Det stod i avisen.
Det støver stadig.
Det var en lørdag aften.
Det var på rundetårn.

Hvilket til gengæld er nemt at oversætte tilbage til engelsk, via Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2010:

It All Came True

It all starts today.
It always rains on sundays.
It came from beneath the sea.
It came from Hollywood.

It came from outer space.
It came without a warning.
It comes up murder.
It conquered the world.

It could happen to you.
It happened on the world's fair.
It happened here.
It happened in Brooklyn.

It happened one night.
It happened one summer.
It happened to Jane.
It happened tomorrow.

It happens every spring.
It lives again.
It only happens to others.
It runs in the family.

It's a big country.
It's a bikini world.
It's a date.
It's a gift.

It's a great feeling.
It's alive!
It's all true.
It's always fair weather.

It's a mad mad mad world.
It's a wonderful life.
It's a wonderful world.
It seemed like a good idea at the time.

It should happen to you.
It shouldn't happen to a vet.
It's in the bag!
It's love that I'm after.

It's my party.
It's my turn.
It's not the size that counts.
It's only money.

It's Pat.
It started in Naples
It started with a kiss.
It started with Eve.

It's the rage.
It takes all kinds.
It takes two.
It! the terror from outer space.

Nej, det bedste danske svar til Ashberys digt er Hans Otto Jørgensens "En af de sjældne" fra det nye pragtalbum Hjernens egen store hund - hvoraf jeg gerne så hver eneste linje filmatiseret, af Roman Polanski:

den her er farveblind, den her har en plet, og den her er meget sjælden

den her er en blomst

den her vil selv, den her kender en ophugger

den her er lykkelig, den her er ulykkelig, den her er syg

den her har ikke indtaget føde i flere dage, den her er sulten, den her er saftig, den her er fra rio

den her vil aldrig giftes, den her arbejder i en bank

den her gør det rigtige

den her er utålmodig, den her vil ikke vente længere, den her kan lide fisk, den her trænger til en pause

den her har være udsat for tortur

den her gør rent, den her er meget vred, den her får penge tilbage i skat

den her taler ikke dansk

den her bor på hotel, den her bor på det samme hotel

den her undrer sig, den her har ikke flere penge, den her har mange søskende

den her er i haven, den her ser film, den her har fået en abort

den her spås en stor fremtid, den her kan ikke lide fremmede, den her kan godt lide fremmede

den her kan bedst lide min mand, den her har mistet begge ben

den her har ryggen fri, den her er mere festlig, den her har flere fejl

den her er flygtning

den her bærer paryk, den her har sukkersyge, den her er hjemløs

den her er ikke mere ung, den her har brug for flere hænder

den her hedder buller

den her har en pind at slå med, den her bliver selv slået, den her spiller død

den her taler fransk, den her er katolik, den her ser sig ikke ordentligt for

den her fuldt udvokset, den her hedder max

den her har et renseri, den her er mor, den her er jehovas vidne

den her er forkølet, den her er retsløs, den her er statsløs

den her har fået en udvisningssag på halsen

den her er selv ingeniør, den her er grønlænder, den her fra fur

den her hedder tove, den her har aldrig kendt sine forældre

den her går til ridning, den her har fået en ny bil, den her har ikke tegnet kasko

den her er nærmest en fisk

- Kan I ikke se det for jer: This One Is Almost A Fish, starring Jack Nicholson and Uma Thurmann, directed by Roman Polanski.