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FOR ?Ç£FIDDLE-DE-DE?Ç¥, by                 Poet's Biography

John Hollander's playful poem "Fiddle-de-de" explores the whimsical nature of language through a series of imaginative translations of the nonsensical phrase "fiddle-de-dee" into various languages and contexts. The poem engages with the linguistic curiosity and absurdity in a manner reminiscent of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland."

The poem begins with a direct reference to Carroll’s work, setting the stage for a dialogue on the translation of the phrase "fiddle-de-dee": "What’s the French for 'fiddle-de-dee'?" The ensuing dialogue, "But 'fiddle-de-dee’s not English' (we / Learn from Alice, and must agree)," acknowledges the nonsensical and whimsical origins of the phrase, grounding it in a literary tradition known for its playful approach to language.

Hollander proceeds to explore various hypothetical translations of "fiddle-de-dee" into multiple languages, each accompanied by a humorous twist:

- The French example, "Le chat assis in an English tree," plays on the idea of blending languages and images to create something absurd yet charming.

- The "fiddle-de-dench" line humorously links the phrase to a "monkey wrench," suggesting that introducing it into a mechanism causes chaos ("produced a stench").

- The Greek example, referencing "Brekekekex" (a phrase from Aristophanes' "The Frogs"), links the playful phrase to an unexpected outcome: "The frog-prince turned out to be great at sex."

- The Erse (Irish) example humorously ties "fiddle-de-derse" to a "violent curse," reflecting a common stereotype of Irish tempers and their poetic insult, "Bad cess to you for your English verse!"

Each subsequent stanza follows this pattern, playing with the phonetic and semantic similarities between "fiddle-de-dee" and phrases in different languages:

- The Malay stanza reflects on the nature of translation and meaning: "There are no true synonyms, anyway."

- The Pali example links "fiddle-de-dally" to "Silicon Valley," commenting on the illusory nature of financial success: "Maya deceives you: the Nasdaq won’t rally."

- The Norwegian example humorously connects "fiddle-de-degian" to "His name is Legion," referencing the ubiquity of aquavit.

- The Punjabi example, "fiddle-de-dabi," ties to a culinary mishap: "They asked for dall but were sent kohl-rabi."

- The Dutch example, "fiddle-de-Dutch," humorously connects to stereotypes of Dutch culture: "Pea-soup and burghers and tulips and such."

- The Farsi example blends multiple cultural references, "fiddle-de-darsi," linking to both "devote yourself" and the Italian "darsi."

Hollander's inventive use of language reaches its climax with the Italian stanza, which links "fiddle-de-dallion" to a "spotted stallion," suggesting a bawdy image: "It makes him more randy to munch on a scallion."

The poem concludes with a meta-linguistic reflection on the use of "fiddle-de-dee": "Having made so free with 'fiddle-de-dee,' / What’s to become now of 'fiddle-de-dum'?" This playful self-awareness highlights the endless potential for linguistic creativity and the inherent fun in exploring the boundaries of language and meaning.

Hollander’s "Fiddle-de-de" is a testament to the joy of linguistic playfulness, celebrating the rich diversity of language and the whimsical connections that can be made across cultures and contexts. Through its clever use of rhyme, wordplay, and cultural references, the poem invites readers to delight in the imaginative possibilities of translation and the ever-evolving nature of language.


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