#problems of translation

[nullalux]

Problems of translation.

[wordswilling]

The clumsiest literal translation is a thousand times more useful than the prettiest paraphrase.

Vladimir Nabokov, “Problems of Translation”

[thetaxonomist-blog]

Problems of Translation

{excerpt} Early morning now and I remember corriendo a la madrugada from a different English poem, I remember from the difficulties of the talk an argument athwart the wine the dinner and the dancing meant to welcome you you did not understand the commonplace expression of my heart: the truth is in the life la verdad de la vida Early morning: do you say la mañanita? But then we lose the idea of the sky uncurling to the light: Early morning and I do not think we lose: the rose we left behind broken to a glass of water on the table at the restaurant stands even sweeter por la mañanita June Jordan