Poethreesome
Sparks Leaping over the Röstigraben and into Tessin

Initiated by the Babel Festival, “Poethreesome” is a joint initiative of the Babel Festival und the Leukerbad International Literary Festival. Around the world, poets translate the works of other poets, sometimes without knowing the other language. This form of poetic translation is the starting point of the «Poethreesome» project. This initiative combines word for word translation and a rigorous discussion of form, style, allusions, etc. When necessary, a common third language is used for assistance.
In Switzerland, poetry from one linguistic region is rarely known to readers in the other linguistic regions. Therefore, the idea behind «Poethreesome» is that three Swiss poets from various linguistic regions will translate each other’s poems into their respective national languages. This will send sparks leaping—from Lake Constance to Lake Geneva and to Lake Maggiore. The results will be presented at the Babel Festival in September and then published.
The 2018 edition of Poethreesome will feature two poets who both write in two langauges: GIANNA OLINDA CADONAU in Romansh (Vallader) and German and MARINA SKALOVA in French and German.

In Leukerbad, the two poets will provide insight into their methods, their decisions, and the difficulties that such a translation project presents.

See detailed programme for time and venue