The Translation of Poetry

[rayheinrich]

Talking about translation (it's more common name being 'reading')
provides me with an excuse for trotting out (yet again) a fav quote:

"A poem is written first in its writer's language.
When you read it, you are translating it into your own language.
Which act requires more skill and creativity,
depends on the individual writer or reader."
- Rachael Keller


That said, there are some positively exquisite readers out there
who have taken the time to pass on some of their discoveries.

One of my fav's is Robert Hass. His translations of Japanese haiku,
especially Basho's (the most sublime poetry in the universes),
thumped my tiny little parochial brain: Writing's got NOTHING
to do with words!. Fucking Texas, that's what I get for choosing
to be born there. Bless you, Mr. Hass, for saving my esthetic soul.
(Well, for a while anyway.)