Yet another adaptation. This was a bit more difficult than other recent pieces, in part because I wanted more detail in the first line. With some difficulty, I refrained from adding it.
To Tu Fu (after Li Po)
I arrive, finally, at this:
above me, Shaqiu City
among the ancient trees
and the autumn winds at sunset.
Lu wine can’t make me drunk,
These songs do nothing for me.
My thoughts flow to you like the
Wen River on its journey south.
And here’s the transliteration on Chinese-poems.com:
Sent to Du Fu below Shaqiu City
I come finally what thing
High lie Sha qiu city
City beside are ancient trees
Sun set join autumn sounds
Lu wine not can drunk
Qi song vain again feel
Think you resemble Wen water
Mighty immense send south journey
O at the Edges 
I have often wondered how some poems are translated from language to language without losing or distorting intent of the poet. It is also of interest as the translation reveal how people of different cultures think in different patterns. One simple example is in English and Spanish , English says “big river” and Spanish says “river big”.
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And then there are colloquialisms!
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Still in absolute awe of what you do! Wonderful, Robert!
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As always, you are too kind. But I’m glad you approve.
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Very good translation!!! Awed!!!
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I hope Tu Fu would have appreciated your version as well.
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That is my hope, too. The Chinese-poems.com version presented me with several unanswered questions. A collaborator with Chinese-language skills would have eased the way.
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Right. I’ve seen the Seaton translation and it is very liberal. I won’t say “wordy” because I really like what Seaton does in inhabiting these poems and giving them a real just-written feel. But he is certainly not worried about concision as much as spirit.
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Speaking of Seaton, I recently ordered two of his books, as well as Sam Hamill’s Endless River. I’ve read their translations in bits and pieces, so it will be refreshing to have larger concentrations at hand.
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David Hinton and Red Pine are two other translators whose work I really admire. My printer at St Brigid Press likes Arthur Sze too, though I have not read as much of his work.
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I love Arthur Sze’s work – his own and his translations. A rare talent and a very interesting person.
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What a peaceful image. Enough to take the edge of my Uni work. Thank you!
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🙂
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Aaah! Love how you manage these transitions and produce poetry that rings and warms the soul! You manage to capture an essence through, yet beyond the words
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Thank you, Rob. Then I’m doing my job.
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Yep! And well!
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I love how you do this. It is amazing and I am glad I get to read it.
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And I’m glad that you enjoy reading it. It’s good to receive confirmation from time to time.
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Excellent. I can feel it and the meaning just hits you. So few words but a lot said. Really great. I’m a Follower now.
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Thank you. I’m glad it resonates for you.
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I think you have created something very inspiring, and specifically yours, from the words in the transliteration. I don’t think it matters that the original might have had different meanings, which I sense it might have.
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Thank you. My hope is to find the poetry in those words, and to produce a version that honors the original.
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Simply stunning. Stretches the imagination !
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Thank you! I’m so pleased you approve.
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Exquisitely done.
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I appreciate your kind words.
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That is a BEAUTIFUL translation, got me right in the heart.
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I’m so pleased you like it.
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Hello Robert, thank you for your like of my post on how we know the world. Best wishes, Phil Stanfield
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I feel that your interpretation was pretty spot on. Even if it was not..I still love it 🙂
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That’s a good job! I like the way you feel your way into the texture of the phrases.
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Great blog, by the way.. I have to go out, but I am definitely coming back to read some more.
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