Preston Losack was RIXT Poet of the Month June 2022. You can read his original Frisian poems of that month here. The translation of one of them – ‘King of Fools’ – is published here.
The Court Jester by clspeace is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.King of Fools “Was there ever, once upon a time When things were mitrily in feign, A moment all were trying to find Some birds a-bluing in the train? Figgies felt so full of fitness Horny buggers thricemore high Gruff ol’ dingy doggo minace Huffing puffing trashing fly!” “What words get hewn when grouped in fours From tangents found but hours before Make some here and get some there Low in rank as scrivonaire Let’s dump all standards overboard And just write “shitty dentist gourd!” No need for proper, no need for prim: We make nonsense interim!” “Word for word we build up worth. Humbug held his heft in first, Frithay with but a Wednesday look, Hourly crample with your Sunday schnook! Listen crovishly! Cry on fowl! Read a helper in a trailer park And laugh when I get discomvowel’d! Stand upon my diction-ark! And knock on doors from thyme to time Whimsing of nauseating butterrhyme!” “No worries, man, if you don’t get it– Don’t be confused, don’t get frustrated, Can’t you hear how it sounds, my sons?” Thus speaks the King upon his throne of puns! © Preston Losack translation: Trevor Scarse and Preston Losack