For NaPoWriMo Day 22, the prompt is: “Today, I’d like to challenge you to find an idiomatic phrase from a different language or culture, and use it as the jumping-off point for your poem. Here’s are a few lists to help get you started: One, two, three.”
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Credit: Hannah Wright via Unsplash.
Quatrain – Abab, abba, ccdc, dddd
Casser les pieds à quelqu’un — to get on someone’s nerves
pédaler dans la semoule — to go round in circles / to get nowhere fast
c’est la goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase — the straw that broke the camel’s back
(“it’s the drop of water that made the vase overflow”)
J’ai d’autres chats à fouetter ! — I have things to do.
Pedaler dans la semoule, I’m caught circling here;
In the same area, frustrated, stuck.
Going no where fast, but still there’s hope near;
We’ll vanquish rage putrid, find dreams awestruck.
*****
Casser les pieds a quell’ qu’un, means you’re —
Trying my fragile nerves — yet, I’m thunderstruck.
I’ll pursue, life conquering, get unstuck,
I’ll push on despite hurt, and awful fear.
****
J’ai d’autres chats à fouetter, I’ll manage;
Continue to break barriers, fight damage.
I don’t quit, I’ll achieve though I’m ado,
Can’t win, but I’ll survive though mishandled.
*****
C’est la goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase;
I might shatter, still I’ll survive hurt too.
God protects, all enemies run –unscrewed;
Despite evil, my last straw won’t fall loose.
******
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