This is so fascinating. I'm shook. While my field is primarily literature (I have no theoretical background in creative writing beyond self-learned and application), this has come up a few times. In my Old English class a few semesters ago, the act of translation was broken down for us, but I was always caught up in rendering the text being translated and how to reflect its meaning--but also how much space was I, the translator-poet, given to play with this meaning? What words am I allowed to use to express this meaning? Can I dictate ambiguity? Can I clarify meaning? So much creative space and that shit is wild.
Also, that poem thoooooo!!! Like, that line/s about freedom and muse being known but not able to be seen, torn when looked upon, like. Yeah!
Anyway, I want to try this! And I might have to hit you up to discuss this a bit more if you have the time and mental space, tbh?
Thanks, Raul! Really appreciate your thoughts. I would love to see your approach to this; happy to talk more about this with you.
Also I think it's really interesting that the questions you ask about translation—about permission of language, clarity, ambiguity, and space—are the same questions I encounter when writing any kind of poetry.
This is so fascinating. I'm shook. While my field is primarily literature (I have no theoretical background in creative writing beyond self-learned and application), this has come up a few times. In my Old English class a few semesters ago, the act of translation was broken down for us, but I was always caught up in rendering the text being translated and how to reflect its meaning--but also how much space was I, the translator-poet, given to play with this meaning? What words am I allowed to use to express this meaning? Can I dictate ambiguity? Can I clarify meaning? So much creative space and that shit is wild.
Also, that poem thoooooo!!! Like, that line/s about freedom and muse being known but not able to be seen, torn when looked upon, like. Yeah!
Anyway, I want to try this! And I might have to hit you up to discuss this a bit more if you have the time and mental space, tbh?
Thanks, Raul! Really appreciate your thoughts. I would love to see your approach to this; happy to talk more about this with you.
Also I think it's really interesting that the questions you ask about translation—about permission of language, clarity, ambiguity, and space—are the same questions I encounter when writing any kind of poetry.