‘Invisible Octopus’ translated into four languages

 

With the help of  kind friends my ‘Invisible Octopus’ Poem has been translated into four language: Spanish, German, Dutch and French.  Scroll down for:

 

• “Invisible Octopus” original poem by Corina Duyn ©2020 Further details on https://www.corinaduyn.com/site/poem/ 

• “Pulpo Invisible” translated by Myli Pincheira V.  

• “Unsichtbarer Oktopus”  translated by Heike Chlebosz 

• “Onzichtbare Octopus” vertaald met ondersteuning van Els Pieters

•  “Pieuvre Invisible” translated by Marie-Annick Desplanques 

• YouTube link to 2 minute video-poem 

 

Invisible Octopus 

by Corina Duyn 

 

The reality of life 

with the unpronounceable illness 

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

is hidden and fragile

M.E. as Invisible Octopus 

acting as puppeteer 

keeping me upright 

or making me stumble at will 

inflicting pain 

challenging my brain 

its crushing weight

taking my breath away

Rosie cheeks

looking well they say

summer is coming

happy thoughts will cure you

I live in a disbelieving world

my reality 

trivialised

dismissed 

My full time carers

witness Octopus’ destruction 

for others I simply disappear

into the shadows

I am just one in this worldwide

community of hermits

where freedom of movement

is no longer a right

Transcending gravity

I fly among the birds

Their beauty and harmony

uplifting and strengthening 

After a short flight 

Octopus attacks

Pinning me down 

immobilised 

each moment is a death 

Breathe

...

Each moment is a living

Finding peace in my solitude

I observe the dance of the trees

There is movement 

in stillness

My creative mind

the visible thread

throughout this twenty-two-year long story

Transforming pain into poetry

© Corina Duyn 2020 https://www.corinaduyn.com/site/poem/

 

Pulpo Invisible

Por Corina Duyn - Translated by Myli Pincheira V.

La realidad de una vida

con la impronunciable enfermedad 

Encefalomielitis Miálgica

es frágil y oculta

E.M como Pulpo Invisible

actúa cual titiritero

me mantiene erguida

o bien tambaleando a su antojo

infringiendo dolor

desafía a mi cerebro

su demoledor peso

me deja sin respiro

Mejillas Rosa

luces bien dicen ellos

Se acerca ya el verano

pensar positivo te curará

Vivo en un mundo que no comprende 

mi realidad

trivializada

dejada a un lado

Mis cuidadores de tiempo completo 

testigos de la destrucción de El Pulpo

Para otros yo simplemente 

desaparezco entre las sombras

Soy tan solo una más 

en esta aldea global de ermitaños 

donde la libertad de movimiento 

ya no es un derecho

Trascendiendo la gravedad

vuelo entre los pájaros

Su belleza y armonía

me alientan y fortalecen

Luego de un breve vuelo

Pulpo ataca

Acorrala

inmoviliza

cada momento es una muerte

Respiro

…

Cada momento es vida

Encuentro paz estando a solas

observo el danzar de los árboles

Hay movimiento 

en la quietud

Mi mente creativa

hilo conductor 

de estos extensos veintidós años de historia 

Transformando el dolor en poesía

© Corina Duyn 2020  https://www.corinaduyn.com/site/poem/

 

Limited edition poem booklet, prints, and greeting cards (suitable for framing) 

are available from https://www.corinaduyn.com/site/poem/

Unsichtbarer Oktopus 

Corina Duyn - translated by Heike Chlebosz

 

Die Realität des Lebens

mit der unaussprechlichen Krankheit

Myalgische Enzephalomyelitis

ist zerbrechlich und nicht sichtbar

 

M.E als Unsichtbarer Oktopus

agierend als Puppenspieler

der mich stehen

der mich fallen lässt

Der Schmerz zuführt

herausfordert

dessen erdrückende Last

mir die Luft zum Atmen nimmt

Rote Bäckchen so wie Rosie 

Gut ausschauend sagen Sie         

Der Sommer kommt 

alles wird gut glaub nur 

Aber in meiner Welt glaubt man nicht

Meine Realität

trivialisiert

ignoriert 

Mein Pflegepersonal sieht 

was der Oktopus anrichtet

Für die anderen 

verschwinde ich im Schatten

Ich bin nur eine unter vielen 

in dieser weltweiten Gemeinschaft von Einsiedlern

die das Recht verloren haben

sich frei zu bewegen

Die Schwerkraft ausser Kraft setzend

fliege ich mit den Vögeln

ihre Schönheit und Harmonie

stärkend und schön

Nach einem kurzen Flug nur

greift Oktopus an

fixiert 

immobilisiert mich

Jeder Moment ist tödlich 

Atme

...

Jeder Moment bedeutet Leben

Frieden findend mit meinem Dasein

schaue ich den Bewegungen der Bäume zu

In der Stille

liegt Bewegung

Meine Kreativität

der rote Faden

der sich durch diese zweiundzwanzig Jahre lange Geschichte zieht

verwandelt Schmerz zu Poesie 

 

© Corina Duyn 2020 https://www.corinaduyn.com/site/poem/

Still from the studio visit based around the poem:https://youtu.be/QyQJ28K_RdY

Onzichtbare Octopus  

Corina Duyn vertaald met ondersteuning van Els Pieters

De realiteit van het leven

met de onuitspreekbare ziekte

Myalgische Encefalomyelitis

is verborgen en kwetsbaar

ME als Onzichtbare Octopus

fungerend als marionettenspeler

houdt me rechtop

of laat mij struikelen wanneer hij wil

veroorzaakt pijn

manipuleert mijn hersenen

zijn verpletterende gewicht

beneemt mij de adem          

Rozige wangen                

je ziet er goed uit zeggen ze

de zomer komt eraan

positieve gedachten zullen je genezen

Ik leef in een sceptische wereld

mijn realiteit

gebagatelliseerd

verstoten         

Mijn fulltime verzorgers

zijn getuigen van Octopus’ vernietigingskracht

voor anderen verdwijn ik

in de schaduw

Ik ben er slechts één van deze wereldwijde 

gemeenschap van kluizenaars

waar bewegingsvrijheid

niet langer een recht is

De zwaartekracht overstijgend

vlieg ik tussen de vogels

Hun schoonheid en harmonie

verheffend en versterkend

Na een korte vlucht

valt Octopus aan

Haalt me neer

verplettert me

Elk moment is sterven

Ademen

...

Elk moment is leven

Vrede vindend in mijn alleen-zijn    

observeer ik de dans van de bomen

Er is beweging

in de stilte

Mijn creatieve geest

de zichtbare draad

tijdens dit al tweeëntwintig jaar durende verhaal

Pijn omgezet in pure poëzie

©️ Corina Duyn 2020 https://www.corinaduyn.com/site/poem/

Limited edition poem booklet, prints, and greeting cards (suitable for framing) 

are available from https://www.corinaduyn.com/site/poem/

Pieuvre Invisible 
par Corina Duyn Translated by Marie-Annick Desplanques 

La réalité de la vie

avec la maladie imprononçable

Encéphalomyélite  Myalgique

est cachée et fragile

E.M. comme Pieuvre Invisible 

agissant comme marionnettiste 

me gardant debout 

ou me faisant trébucher à son gré 

infligeant la douleur
défiant mon cerveau

son poids écrasant

à me couper le souffle

Les joues rosies

vous vont bien disent ils

c’est l’été qui arrive

les pensées positives vous guériront

Je vis dans un monde incrédule

ma réalité 

banalisée

écartée 

Mes soignants à temps plein

constatent la destruction de Pieuvre

pour d’autres je disparais tout simplement

dans l’ombre

Je ne suis que l’une de cette communauté 

mondiale d’ermites

où la liberté de mouvement

n’est désormais plus un droit

Transcendant la gravité

Je vole parmi les oiseaux

Leur beauté et leur harmonie

exaltantes et tonifiantes

Après un court vol 

Pieuvre attaque 

M’épinglant à terre

immobilisée

chaque instant est une mort 

Respire

...

Chaque instant est une vie

Trouvant la paix dans ma solitude

J’observe la danse des arbres

Il y a du mouvement 

dans l’immobilité

Mon esprit créatif

le fil visible

de cette histoire de vingt-deux ans

Transformant la douleur en poésie

©️Corina Duyn 2020 https://www.corinaduyn.com/site/poem/

Shedding

Life is peculiar. Life is never linear. Life can be like a rollercoaster ride with its gentle rolls where one can take a deep breath of relief only to experience those terrifying highs and lows again. Such is life. Presently lots is changing. In terms of my health. In terms of the care I require. As well as changes in my care team. Lots to comprehend. Time to rewrite - time for a new era. 

For months I am engaging in ‘space-clearing’. Bit by bit I am letting go of anything I either don’t really need, or no longer require, or don’t particularly like. Or would be of more use in someone else’s life. Even books. My tv. I keep what I need, what brings me joy, which has memories attached I simply am not ready yet to let go off.

Some of these decisions were dictated by a change in health. Over a short time I became more and more unable to tolerate the clothes I loved for years. Many a morning I’d be close to tears by the thought of having to get dressed. Clothes brought an extreme reaction to the sensation of touch. Of being trapped. Even clothes which were not tight. I’d tolerate t-shirts for a few seconds before I had to ask my carers to pull them off straight away. Panic. I could no longer deal with trousers which were baggy and made ‘noise’ when I walked. I couldn’t deal with a shirts because of the collars. I was at a total loss on what to wear. 

Like a snake I shedded my skin - my clothes.

I bought a new set of clothes. Big, soft clothes. Just a few pieces. When I decided to do this big ‘culling’ of my wardrobe it actually felt liberating... After the few tears of letting go of my once beloved clothes. It was a letting go of another era. Most of my wardrobe now has new homes- new bodies. I am comfortable again in my new skin. My new clothes. And marvel at how little I need. Still more to let go.

Letting go of the old - makes room for the new.

Books. Ah, books. Letting go of books used to be a challenge. I used to love, absolutely love my library of books. Then suddenly I was overwhelmed by the amount of books I owned. Over the past few months I let go of quite a few books. In the past few weeks I am more rigorous. Lots of books went into the ‘give away’ box. Disability Study ones are now in new ownership (More to go). Other books I am re-reading, and if I truly love the story, the sentiment, the writing, the author, it will go back on the shelf. Others go into the ever filling box.

It is all very liberating to be honest. And an interesting experiment in what books I liked enough in the past to keep. Some I’d say just ended up on the shelf without a special attachment to them. Some were obviously very much right for a particular time of my life. And of no interest right now. Some are absolute beauties and will stay with me for the rest of my life.

This morning I realised that I also need to let go of my own previously published books*. So, I am offering them to you at half price. I prefer them to be read than stored away in my space. I hope they’ll bring joy to new readers. I hope they will share a tiny nugget of wisdom I gained during two decades of illness. “Hatched”, “Into the Light”, “Cirrus Chronicles”, “Snapshots”, and “Life Outside the Box”. Of some books I only have a few copies left.

                If interested, PLEASE ORDER HERE.

The half price will be calculated on the books.  Please let me know at either Paypal level or via an email to me that you have read about this offer, and I will refund the 50% of the cost of the books via PayPal. (Full postage will be charged.)

If you can make a case for wanting my books but have no funds to pay for them, please DO let me know and we make a deal. Please do let me know.

Please be well. Stay safe. And thank you for your company in person or via cyberspace.

Corina 

*This offer is not for the ‘Invisible Octopus’ Poem booklet or related art works which can be ordered here.