Donations are essential to keep Write Out Loud going    

ðə króz ləmɛ́nt

entry picture

ðə króz ləmɛ́nt

 

(tékən frə́m ‘the bʊ́k ə́v crows’)

 

kró stǽnd ən fíld

sɪ́ŋ kró sɔ́ŋ

tú hjúmən ɪ́r

sáwnd rɔ́ŋ

 

koww koww koww

 

kró blǽk ə́v wɪ́ŋ

kró blǽk ə́v bón

kró blǽk ə́v hárt

kró só əlón

 

áj hǽd brə́ðər blǽk

bə́t brə́ðər blǽk ɪ́z gɔ́n

tékən báj ðə wɪ́ntər

hɪ́r máj sǽd kró sɔ́ŋ

 

“stick mǽn

sǽk hɛ́d

rǽg mǽn

ɔ́l dɛ́d

ɔ́l dɛ́d

ə́ndər ájs

ɔ́l dead”

 

sə́mər sə́n hɪ́r

bǽnɪʃ wɪ́ntər snó

hílɪŋ ə́v ðə ə́rθ

hílɪŋ ə́v ðə kró

 

skǽrkro mák kró

rípər mǽn kə́mz

wɪ́ð ʃárp bléd

stájflɪŋ kró sɔ́ŋ

 

koww koww koww

 

kró nó ɔ́təm

sɛ́nd mɪ́sts tú vél

rətə́rn ə́v wájt wɪ́tʃ

ǽnd ájs lákt dʒél

 

koww koww koww

koww koww koww

 

[trænzletəd ɪntu ælbiən spik fɔr ðoz fok ðæt hæv fərgatən kro təŋ]

[Translated into Albion Speak for those folk that have forgotten Crow Tongue]

 

The Crows Lament

 

(Taken From ‘The Book Of Crows’)

 

crow stand in field

sing crow song

to human ear

sound wrong

 

koww koww koww

 

crow black of wing

crow black of bone

crow black of heart

crow so alone

 

I had brother black

but brother black is gone

taken by the winter

hear my sad crow song

 

“stick man

sack head

rag man

all dead

all dead

under ice

all dead”

 

summer sun here

banish winter snow

healing of the earth

healing of the crow

 

scarecrow mock crow

reaper man comes

with sharp blade

stifling crow song

 

koww koww koww

 

crow know autumn

send mists to veil

return of white witch

and ice locked jail

 

koww koww koww

koww koww koww

crowcrows of albionthe book of crowswinterdeathreaper

◄ The Beast Beneath The Beck

Lost In Translation ►

Comments

Profile image

Hazel ettridge

Sat 26th May 2018 17:51

Ian, I also read it out loud and only used the translation for confirmation. I didn't get any hint of piss taking (maybe I'm naive) I just loved it.

Profile image

Cynthia Buell Thomas

Sat 26th May 2018 16:45

Thanks for the translation. But, seriously, even the original is readable if you actually 'voice' it.

I'm never sure when you are making fun of me. Sort of 'taking the piss'. This is probably one ot those times. But I so admire cleverness and ingenuity, I'm not too bothered.

I have a poem story in 'backtown Bermudian speech' which makes me holler every time I read it aloud, even as I stumble over the accent, let alone the creative 'spelling'. It's just for my own family who know me well. But it was fun to write and also read, definitely fun.

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message