Last week, in the post Coast to Coast, I briefly mentioned transcreation. For those unfamiliar with the term, it’s a portmanteau word derived from translation and creation.
Translation is seldom easy and, depending on your definition of the word, translation of poetry may be considered impossible: should you focus on form or content? on sound, on patterns of metre or rhyme, or on meaning?
Continue reading “transcreation II”
Although I was alert enough to remember the Chinese New Year a few weeks ago and make a semi-relevant post, my mind has been full of the general rubbish and rubble of life and I seem to have missed a lot of “days” recently: St David’s Day, International Book Day, World Wildlife Day, International Women’s Day, and no doubt at least a handful of others.
So here are some daffodils for St David’s:
Continue reading “missing days”
The human race is very fond of enclosures and barriers. We put fences around open spaces and lock other people out.
In the walled garden by the church, early crocuses are in flower.
[…] Under the trees
a crocus campfire kindles.
Yes, the half-closed flowers remind me of flames. But they also remind me of praying hands, though when they open more fully, it’s more as if the petals were spread wide to receive whatever alms or largess the prayers have prompted.
Continue reading “poetry and prayer”
Sometimes what you want is inaccessible.
They say the sky’s the limit, but it’s way beyond your grasp.
Things are complicated: you feel you’ll never manage to track down the ends to unravel the different threads.
Continue reading “ways and means”
don't confuse the narrator 