A Good Poem
A good poem is like finding a hole
in the palace
wall--
never know what you
might
see.
Commentary
(translated by Daniel Ladinsky)
The poem above is written by Tukaram (c. 1608-1649), a Marathi uplifting
poet. I have never read the original (I am not a Maharashrian), and I do not know how good the translation is, I must confess. Nevertheless, I liked it and thought I’d share it with you.
I chose to send this poem because it has an interesting fundamental
definition of poetry. Secondly I guess I want to motivate you guys into putting effort into Indian and other language poetry translations. It certainly will increase verity on the abstract beauty of thoughts. (Yes, translations can sometime be not well done, I understand)
— Arunasri Nishtala
Martin adds
Arunasri raises a rather interesting point - should a translation of a poem be judged more on its accuracy or on its poetic merits? If it turned out that today’s poem was indeed not a faithful translation of Tukaram’s original (and if any Marathi speaker knows the original, do write in!) would it affect its value as a poem in its own right? And more fundamentally, is poetry even ‘translatable’, or is the translator inevitably creating a new work of art, in collaboration with but not identifiable with the original?
— Martin
Links
Biography of Tukaram: http://www.tukaram.com/pages/intro1.asp
And a somewhat blurby one of Ladinsky: http://www.tgrady.com/ladinsky.htm
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From the Wondering Minstrels mailing list, 1999–2008.
Gwilym Williams · 18 December 2004
The poem ‘A Good Poem’ should be read twice;
looking in, looking out.
Good poems should always be read at least twice. Bad poems need not be read twice.
Norm Rourke/Connie Carson-Rourke · 18 December 2004
The poem isn’t here in text only version or otherwise???
Dan · 19 December 2004
Regarding literary translation, I’m of the opinion that it may be enjoyed two ways: as an art form in itself or as a companion poem to the original. The former is usually the case when the reader is not aware that the poem he or she is reading is a translation and it is appreciated on its own merits; the latter takes place usually among translators themselves who flex their literary muscle through the rediscovery and imitation of conventions in the mother poem in terms of number of syllables and rhyme for example with the effect of, as a student of mine recently pointed out, replicating the essence of the translated. I prefer to call it the poem’s tone and mood though.
My two cents anyway.
…we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
THE HOLY BIBLE, Romans 5:3-5