Natasha The Poet (Not!)

Haha, I can't stop laughing. Have you heard about the poetry book by Natasha Hudson? My mom was sceptical when the book first came out, she said something to the effect that if she can write poetry and publish a book of it then anyone else also can.

Well, mom was right. Natasha can't write for shit. She just translated poems and published them as her own, all the while maintaining that it's her own personal work. If one line is uncannily similar, it could be coincidence. If one whole poem is similar, maybe it's still a coincidence. But three?! See below:

Kek Coklat
(Supposedly by Natasha Hudson)

Saya mahu satu kehidupan
Kamu mahu sesuatu yang lain
Kita tidak dapat makan kek coklat
Jadi kita makan sesama sendiri

Cake
(By Roger McGough)

I wanted one life
You wanted another
We couldn't have our cake
So we ate each other
-----
Si Kura-Kura Kecil
(Supposedly by Natasha Hudson)

Ada seekor kura-kura kecil
tinggal di dalam kotak
berenang di tepi tasik
memanjat di atas batu

dia cuba menggigit nyamuk
dia cuba menggigit kutu
dia cuba menggigit berudu
dia cuba menggigit aku

dia berjaya menangkap nyamuk
dia berjaya menangkap kutu
dia berjaya menangkap berudu
tetapi dia tidak berjaya menangkap aku

I Have a Little Turtle
(By Nicholas Vachel Lindsay)

There was a little turtle.
He lived in a box.
He swam in a puddle.
He climbed on the rocks.

He snapped at a mosquito.
He snapped at a flea.
He snapped at a minnow.
And he snapped at me.

He caught the mosquito.
He caught the flea.
He caught the minnow.
But he didn't catch me.
-----
Mentega Kuning, Jelly Ungu, Jam Merah, Roti Hitam
(Supposedly by Natasha Hudson)

Mentega kuning, jelly ungu, jam merah, roti hitam
ratakan tebal
katakan cepat
ratakan tebal
katakan cepat

sekarang ulang
sambil kamu makan
sekarang ulang
sambil kamu makan
janganlah bercakap
bila mulut kamu penuh

Things We Like to Eat
(By Mary Ann Hoberman)

Yellow butter, purple jelly, red jam, black bread.
Spread it thick,Say it quick.
Yellow butter, purple jelly, red jam, black bread
Spread it thicker,Say it quicker.

Yellow butter, purple jelly, red jam, black bread
Now repeat it,While you eat it.
Yellow butter, purple jelly, red jam, black bread
Don't talkWith your mouth full!
-----

Don't it just reeks of Babelfish-ism? I first read about it here. I say spread the word and let the world know how much a poet Natasha really is. It pains me to see such beautiful words being carelessly translated, word for word almost but none of the original soul included. Worser still that she claimed that is is hers. Shame.

Dear readers, spread the word. This sort of blatant plagiarism is not acceptable bar none. If you care to google around abit about this, then you can even read her own comments trying to defend herself by again reiterating that it's her own personal work. Sigh. Bodoh tak reti diajar?

Anyway, here's me doing a Natasha Hudson as well:

Usah berdiri di pusaraku dan menangis
Aku bukan disitu, aku tidak tidur
Aku di dalam seribu angin berlalu
Aku ialah seribu salju-salju
Aku ialah gerimis perlahan
Aku ialah padi masak di bendang
Aku di dalam pagi yang tenang
Aku di dalam kelembutan cepatnya
burung-burung berpusingan terbang
Aku ialah sinar bintang malam
Aku ialah bunga yang berkembangan
Aku di dalam bilik sepi
Aku di dalam burung yang menyanyi
Aku di dalam semua yang indah
Usah berdiri di pusaraku dan menangis
Aku bukan di situ, aku tidak mati.

Tell me if you know who wrote the original one. Wait, of course it's me! Heh.