This week’s Translation Tuesday features the work of Italian poet Maria Borio. This translation of Borio’s work is deft, bringing out the implausibly smooth staccato of the original Italian. The mix of rhythm and flow in the poem is incapsulated by the symbol of the train that cuts and blows as it glides. Here, the movement of images works to push the boundaries of the movement of thoughts: brackets set off points of views that read almost like cinematic direction, suggesting that the pure movement of the verse—and thought—are always conditioned by some perspectival imposition. Come aboard Maria Borio’s powerful train of thought.
Perspective
The horizon line seemed the border of the world
halted midst your pole and the sea. The sea curving since
the earth is a globe, suspended between nose and horizon hands
fist fight, thrusting images of inconsistency against
[the horizon.