For this week’s Translation Tuesday, we bring you a trenchant sequence of six poems by Austrian poet Liesl Ujvary, translated from the German by Ann Cotton and Anna-Isabella Dinwoodie. In our current information-saturated age, the very nature of truth has become the central battleground, and Ujvary’s poems lucidly illustrate this. Each poem uses the deceptively plain language of logical exercises to dissect the mechanisms of modern discourse—where topics such as art, human relationships, and science are often filtered through the lenses of capitalism and politics. They expose how a passionately held conviction can be systematically inverted, and how the dialectical process is routinely weaponized into pure propaganda. The result is an ominous portrait of “doublethink,” where contradictory narratives coexist and simplicity masks manipulation. Entertaining yet chilling, this collection of poems distills the essence of the “fake news” era.
this is better
democracy is better than dictatorship
butter is better than margarine
schools are better than military training camps
sex is better than booze
humans are better than computers
houses are better than barracks
poems are better than advertisements
students are better than cops
truth is better than lies
this is the same
democracy is like dictatorship
butter is like margarine
schools are like military training camps
sex is like booze
humans are like computers
houses are like barracks
poems are like advertisements
students are like cops
truth is like lies
this has always been like this
democracy has always been like this
butter has always been like this
schools have always been like this
sex has always been like this
humans have always been like this
houses have always been like this
poems have always been like this
students have always been like this
truth has always been like this
there will always be this
there will always be dictatorship
there will always be margarine
there will always be military training camps
there will always be booze
there will always be computers
there will always be barracks
there will always be advertisements
there will always be cops
there will always be lies
Dialectic Objects
The Danube always flows in the same direction.
No, the Danube does not always flow in the same direction.
The new government will be different.
No, the new government will not be different.
The law of gravity is universal.
No, the law of gravity is not universal.
The Communist Party always follows the same principles.
No, the Communist Party does not always follow the same principles.
Politicians like to play with children.
No, politicians do not like to play with children.
A lot can be learned from history.
No, not a lot can be learned from history.
Austria is a neutral country.
No, Austria is not a neutral country.
The sun shines on everyone alike.
No, the sun does not shine on everyone alike.
Military institutions serve national security.
No, military institutions do not serve national security.
At school, children are trained to be citizens.
No, at school, children are not trained to be citizens.
Jesus loves you.
No, Jesus does not love you.
The Burgtheater is an important cultural institution.
No, the Burgtheater is not an important cultural institution.
Capitalism is the best system for society.
No, capitalism is not the best system for society.
The car is a practical means of transportation.
No, the car is not a practical means of transportation.
Art educates.
No, art does not educate.
Our national capital, Vienna, is becoming more beautiful and modern with each passing year.
No, our national capital, Vienna, is not becoming more beautiful and modern with each passing year.
Alcohol is a dangerous poison.
No, alcohol is not a dangerous poison.
More police means more safety.
No, more police does not mean more safety.
Collected Knowledge
Yes, it’s true that the Danube always flows in the same direction. The Danube always flows in the same direction because we know that the Danube always flows in the same direction.
Yes, it’s true that traffic is loud. Traffic is loud because we know that traffic is loud.
Yes, it’s true that grapes are sweet. Grapes are sweet because we know that grapes are sweet.
Yes, it’s true that the colors of our country are red, white and red. Red, white and red are the colors of our country because we know that red, white and red are the colors of our country.
Yes, it’s true that Regina brand kitchens are nice. Regina brand kitchens are nice because we know that Regina brand kitchens are nice.
Yes, it’s true that smoking is harmful. Smoking is harmful because we know that smoking is harmful.
Yes, it’s true that the Socialist Party is in power. The Socialist Party is in power because we know that the Socialist Party is in power.
Yes, it’s true that love unites people. Love unites people because we know that love unites people.
Yes, it’s true that coal is expensive. Coal is expensive because we know that coal is expensive.
Yes, it’s true that Switzerland shares a border with Austria. Switzerland shares a border with Austria because we know that Switzerland shares a border with Austria.
Yes, it’s true that there are military dictatorships in South America. There are military dictatorships in South America because we know that there are military dictatorships in South America.
Yes, it’s true that Baader-Meinhof are fighting capitalism. Baader-Meinhof are fighting capitalism because we know that Baader-Meinhof are fighting capitalism.
Yes, it’s true that astronauts are exploring outer space. Astronauts are exploring outer space because we know that astronauts are exploring outer space.
Yes, it’s true that shopping is fun. Shopping is fun because we know that shopping is fun.
Yes, it’s true that the police keep order. The police keep order because we know that the police keep order.
Yes, it’s true that air pollution levels are rising. Air pollution levels are rising because we know that air pollution levels are rising.
Yes, it’s true that a working week is 40 hours. A working week is 40 hours because we know that a working week is 40 hours.
Yes, it’s true that Salzburg is a city of culture. Salzburg is a city of culture because we know that Salzburg is a city of culture.
Yes, it’s true that there are bananas in every supermarket. There are bananas in every supermarket because we know that there are bananas in every supermarket.
Yes, it’s true that asshole is a curse word. Asshole is a curse word because we know that asshole is a curse word.
Yes, it’s true that murderers are criminals. Murderers are criminals because we know that murderers are criminals.
Yes, it’s true that the new fashion is exciting. The new fashion is exciting because we know that the new fashion is exciting.
Yes, it’s true that Coca-Cola quenches your thirst. Coca Cola quenches your thirst because we know that Coca-Cola quenches your thirst.
Yes, it’s true that green is the color of hope. Green is the color of hope because we know that green is the color of hope.
Yes, it’s true that we are free people. We are free people because we know that we are free people.
Translated from the German by Ann Cotton and Anna-Isabella Dinwoodie
Liesl Ujvary (b. 1939) is an Austrian writer in the concrete tradition. Her oeuvre includes experimental electronic music and video. In the mid-1970s, after studying Slavic languages, ancient Hebrew literature and art history in Vienna and Zurich, she edited and translated an anthology of six Soviet poets whose manuscripts she smuggled out of Moscow. Her poetic debut, Good & Safe (Sicher & Gut) published in 1977 and reissued in 2017, combines conceptual rigor with slapstick and social satire. Later works such as Body & Tech (2024) explore existential questions through scenarios of cyborg combat.
Ann Cotten is a writer and translator from Vienna, Austria. Translations from English to German include books by Isabel Waidner, Legacy Russell, Rosmarie Waldrop, Mary MacLane, Joe Wenderoth, and Adam Green. Cotten is co-editor of Triëdere, an Austrian journal for theoretical literature.
Anna-Isabella Dinwoodie earned an MFA in translation from Queens College, CUNY, where she served as translations editor at Armstrong Literary. A 2019 Bread Loaf Scholar, Dinwoodie works as a freelance translator and visual poet in Berlin. Together with Jan Tabaczynski, she also writes a bilingual crossword for The Berliner magazine.
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