I Loved this episode. This is a subject that I have thought a lot about. It is a big issue in many religions. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has dealt with this issue for quite sometime. Closely related to this episode is the LDS hymnbook. The words, the message, the music, the feeling, the rhymes, and the timing all need to match.
Here are the links for those interested. There is a drop down in the top left corner to swap languages.

English
https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns?lang=eng
Espanol
https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns?lang=eng&clang=spa
Francais
https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns?lang=eng&clang=fra
Portugues
https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns?lang=eng&clang=por

I loved this section of the podcast. I was standing out in the field with the sheep and was laughing my head off with the different translations. What fun. It reminded me of the different translations of the famous Italian poem called The Hill by a chap called Leopardi.

Thanks again for putting so much effort into the podcast. Very enjoyable.

Sheyne

Radiolab
the podcast's fab
Finest dab
my ears grab
Healthiest stuff
for this buff's
three pound cognitive flab
Exhilarating
is understating
Intoxicatin' so
I crave evermo'
No way to girth
its joys and mirth
in three syllables per line
But hey, I'm tryin'!
Enough, 'ere, I break the form
for the uninform'd -
Who to blame?
Ahem, Doug/Clem*
So I shout
to scout
fellow devouts,
brains and minds,
cortex to spine
that yearn and pine
the blissful addiction
far-too-gone for rehab
#Radiolab

The section about Chopin had a piece of music playing underneath that I don't believe is music by Chopin. Isn't it by Eric Satie?

Matt- beautifully done! I particularly love "It's Matt's rule," and "Although bed... /Do Think Twice," and "blow the pen/ O bedridden" is, if I may, darned insouciant! Bravo.

Len, great work! You've inspired me to try. I have no real knowledge of French, so this is a little dependent on the translated versions. Here it goes --

My sweet girl
please unfurl,
it is day.
Join the fray,
blow the pen
o’bedridden!
Salve with haste,
leave this place!
End those snores
Out the door!
Quick my sprout,
go get out!
It’s Matt’s rule.
Stop your drool
and fill up!
Mouth to cup!
Although bed
and warm bread
sound real nice,
do think twice.
You’ll get white,
thin and slight!
Please bestow
your warm glow
Upon us here
amongst your peers.
Heal young pearl.
My sweet girl.

I absolutely love this! His way of looking at this poem is very different, and how he decided to translate it is very interesting. One thing I love specifically abut this podcast is the way they play the music with the poems as they are being read to us, and how they match and give the poem something extra. 'Let one hundred flowers bloom' is a wonderful way to look at life, not just poems. Cool way to see translation.

Couldn't resist-- had to give it a shot:

Sweetie Pie

Sweetie Pie,
First off: Hi.
(Hashtag hug.)
Why not shrug
Off the sheet
And retreat
From the bed?
Clear your head—
You’ll feel swell-
What the hell!
Out we’ll go,
Catch a show
Hit the zoo
Go canoe,
Grab a beer
Far from here.
Come on, please:
Herbal teas
And some toast
Are a most
Awful snack.
Don’t lie back
And just snore:
What a bore!
Rise and shine
Darling mine,
Len says try,
Sweetie Pie.

Hofstadter's book: Le Ton Beau De Marot: In Praise Of The Music Of Language

What's the name of the book he wrote about the poem. I really want to look it up now.

Doug's contributions to the world of translators, not only through his writings on Ma mignonne but others where he talks about his philosophy on translations, are truly a gift to everyone in search of that elusive meaning of words in their original language. Nobody has pushed me into greater depths than Doug has. We owe him our eternal gratitude!

fhp, Here you go:

A une Damoyselle malade

Ma mignonne,
Je vous donne
Le bon jour;
Le séjour
C’est prison.
Guérison
Recouvrez,
Puis ouvrez
Votre porte
Et qu’on sorte
Vitement,
Car Clément
Le vous mande.
Va, friande
De ta bouche,
Qui se couche
En danger
Pour manger
Confitures;
Si tu dures
Trop malade,
Couleur fade
Tu prendras,
Et perdras
L’embonpoint.
Dieu te doint
Santé bonne,
Ma mignonne.

I wish you would have printed to the 28 line poem that visually captivated D. Hofstadter.