File spoon-archives/phillitcrit.archive/phillitcrit_2000/phillitcrit.0008, message 245


Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 06:43:12 -0500
From: "George Y. Trail" <gtrail-AT-UH.EDU>
Subject: Re: PLC: Literary Saints


There's nothing wrong with the poem. But poetry doesn't translate, so I
would be talking about the translators reaction to the work of another. 
"if you don't feel up to it"? I said I would prefer you not to be so
smug. Now I will ask you not to be snotty. I will continue to take your
question seriously even if you intend it as rhetorical (unanswerable).  

Only if the beautiful is ethical, you write. You have, I believe,
answered your own question. 

Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought
As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!
When old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
Beauty is truth, truth beauty,--that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

or try:

Among
of
green

stiff
old
bright

broken
branch
come

white 
sweet 
May 

again

I am hardly in a position to "allow" you to do anything. Send away when
you feel right about it. Be prepared, however, for frank responses.  


g 

zatavu-AT-excite.com wrote:> 
> WHat's wrong the the poem above, even in translation (It is from The
> Magnetic Fields, by the way)? Take it as it is. Pretend it is not
> translated. Or, if you don't feel up to it, I could give you another one:
> 
> LOVE TOWN by Anne Carson
> 
> She ran in.
> Wet corn.
> Yellow braid.
> Down her back.
> 
> SHort, but beautiful. Ethical? Only if the beautiful is ethical. Would you
> perhaps allow me to submit a poem of my own, perhaps? I won't do so now, but
> let you say if I should. Or perhaps this poem will be enough.
> 
> Troy Camplin
> 
> _______________________________________________________
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