Comments on: domestic and foreign

By: S.Bodrunova

S.Bodrunova — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:03:43 +0000

Thanks for saying what you’ve said on ‘Mary’s Diary’
Svetlana

By: Lucas Klein

Lucas Klein — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:11:30 +0000

“only slightly awkward-because-translated…”
If we don’t know Russian, how can we be sure that it isn’t awkward in the original, and that the awkwardness of the translation isn’t a faithful reproduction of the Russian awkwardness into English?
We can all think of so many moments of awkwardness in translation that we might think that translations can only be awkward, but then, aside from that, when should a translation be awkward? When and why should a translation not be awkward? Do we read awkwardness differently in an original poem than in a translation? Are our standards for poets and translators different–as in, do we want our poems to sound like poems, but reel when translations to sound like translations?–and are we blaming translators for perceived missteps when, if we thought it were a poem, we’d be more likely to think about artistic effect? Can translators ever be allowed to achieve artistic effect?
Whom do we trust to tell us that a translator’s work is not to be trusted?

By: Don Share

Don Share — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:50:26 +0000

If you'd like to know what things look like from the perspective of an actual Russian poet, check out the wickedly funny piece by Alexei Tsvetkov in the February issue of Poetry. We also chatted with Alexei on our soon-to-be-posted Poetry magazine podcast, so stay tuned for that: he describes the Russian poetry scene, and (now that he's come to the US) what he thinks of American poets and poetry.

By: capps

capps — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:23:18 +0000

Ah, I didn’t catch your previous Aygi post. It sounds like there is some mystery or controversy surrounding this translation; I wonder if there is ever NOT w/ translations? Don’t know what to think about that–this book seems beautiful. Oh well. A fascinating poet in any case, to be sure. cheers!

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:20:01 +0000

Hey, I blogged Gennady Aygi (or Aggi or Aigi) last month! He's fascinating. Apparently Peter France's translation is not to be trusted... if you want to know more, you might consider contacting Brian Reed.

By: capps

capps — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:08:38 +0000

I quite randomly and recently picked up a book–and then stayed with it–of poems called Field Russia, by Gennady Aygi (1934- 2006). I had not read him before. The translator is Peter France, and the publisher is New Directions, a press I admire. It is a beautiful book which I keep picking up and chewing on. I find it awfully compelling. Here’s a bit from a poem called “And: Moments-In-Birches”
in the face
to grow heavy
and cut
with the part that pulls
as if into trustfulness of kin close by–into heavy and moist adoration
of brightness (as of brain) of birches
with a part
to cut
and in-clots-in dampness
there from here
in tears as in bones in adoration
into whiteness-God! into deeper than a groan