Images of Irreverence: Nonsense Poetry in Translation as Exemplified by Edward Lear’s Poem “The Akond of Swat”

This article discusses selected “rewritings” of Edward Lear’s nonsense poem “The Akond Swat”, focusing specifically on the translators’, illustrators’, adapters’ and editors’ attitudes towards allusive nature – reference it makes to historical figure Pashtun religious leader Abdul Ghaffūr, also known as (or Wali) Swat or Saidū Bābā, which may be viewed orientalist parodistic from a contemporary viewpoint. Recent translated illustrated versions inscribe with new aesthetic ideological values. Two Polish translations considered in this article, produced by Andrzej Nowicki Stanisław Barańczak respectively, demonstrate changing approaches genre evidenced literary circles (revealing gradual transition pure nonsense). Graphic representations discussed testify artists’ interpretive powers redefining poem, rebranding an infantile fairy tale one hand disturbing reflection tyranny “the war terrorism” other.