Translation is always betrayal
Fed To The Wolves I’m picking up my little column of free and unfaithful translations again (interpretations more than translations) with one of the most ferocious texts by someone who has always been ferocious.
Language (even when it’s the one you were born with, by pure chance) is a barrier and communication is only a utopian desire; "I Lost Faith in Words," quoting another song by Hammill.
So take this stuff that pretends to be a translation with the necessary grain of salt, but the song is beautiful and brave, and try to think about what effect it would have if – today – someone published it in Italy.
Feed To the Wolves
And it was said: "Everyone will be fed, all the weak and powerless will be comforted." And so Mother Church opened her arms to welcome her orphans. And here is this unholy shepherd, this clod of earth, with his bird casually pushed through the sacred vestments, hidden behind the confessional screen.
The priest breathes heavily in the sacristy, and mumbles his sermon fiddling with his fingers.
Nuns with closed eyes pretend not to know.
For the innocent there is no escape – In what Hell on earth (in the name of Christ!) have they been abandoned?
Oh, it was said "They will be fed"! This young flesh was meant to be devoured, that was the meaning.
Here are the lambs led to be given as food to the wolves, given as food to the wolves.
(They should be safe in the House of God. Can you imagine anything worse?
The children are in their power and the power is there waiting for them naked.
They should be safe in the House of God, but there is no mercy in His house, only abuse.
And the harm that is done is the most ungodly of sins, the worst blasphemy).
It was said "They will be fed" but comfort is an unjust punishment that comes from the rod, precisely from those who pose as protectors and complaining would only bring a beating on the back and the charge of lying wickedness. There is no escape on this earth ruled by godlessness: here are the lambs who will be devoured, led to be given as food to the wolves. Food for the wolves.
Pray for the prey,
given as food to the wolves.
(And the harm that is done is the most infamous of blasphemies). detto:
