三首诗

When I was asked to translate a section of Xiao Kaiyu’s poem “Homage to Du Fu,” I said to myself, “Now this is a poet.” Xiao’s poetry is difficult, even abstruse, and contains within it a melding of classical allusions and contemporary social engagement. He is not someone who “writes for the idea,” though ideas are important to his work. Xiao tests the bounds of referentiality and representability. His subject matter is often public: the status of China in the world, gender relations, human finitude, poverty, damage to the natural environment. One can sense from his poetry a strong chord of dignity, but not a dignity of the poet himself. Xiao’s attention is primarily cast upon the ordinary people of China, who in many cases have been left behind in the march toward economic modernity and globalization.

In translating it, I first strive to comprehend his verse as best as possible on a literal level. Xiao utilizes catachresis, convoluted syntax, and a host of other literary techniques to provide the reader with an experience that is inimitable. Having parsed out the literal meaning of his work, at some point I leave the “original” text aside and work on the English version—working it over and over again until it sounds and looks like a poem in English. At this stage, I often forget the details of the original. After I feel comfortable with the English version, I return to the Chinese and compare the two. I then further rework it to ensure the English does not stray too far from the original. However, fidelity to the original cannot compromise the literary quality of the English translation. My version must work as a poem on its own; otherwise, it does a disservice. The challenge and joy of this process is participating in an endeavor that is at once impossible and necessary.