the Real Deal…?

for your consideration

(Ref: AlleyKatPoets Oct. 21, 2k15)

   Was once again, riding that bronco of translation/mis-translation of “poetry” from one language to another.

  Not to beat a dead frog (so to speak) but a great exemplar of the vagaries of translation is the accumulation of Matsuo Basho’s iconic haiku

              old pond

              frog jumps in—

              sound of water   Matsuo Basho

If one is reading a book of translations (any type of poetry) it is wise to keep in mind, these are translated by “scholars” of varying degrees of accomplishment with just as many various outlooks on the work, just as many forms of flavoring (interpretation) they may want to impart.

   Here are some examples of translation “colorings” from supposed “experts” and their supposed translation from (17th Century) Japanese.  From some of these, exampled by those on this particular site, and I’m assuming, these are purported to be “experts,” one might be tempted to read: “muttonheads”—but after all: translation cannot devoid itself of the interpretive seasoning. Garlic and onion powder on ice cream…who’s to say…?

www.bopsecrets.org/gateway/passages/

basho-frog.htm

Old pond

frogs jumped in

sound of water.   Lafcadio Hearn

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Into the ancient pond
A frog jumps
Water’s sound!    T.D. Suzuki

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A lonely pond in age-old stillness sleeps . . .
Apart, unstirred by sound or motion . . . till
Suddenly into it a lithe frog leaps.  Curtis Hidden Page

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There once was a curious frog
Who sat by a pond on a log
And, to see what resulted,
In the pond catapulted
With a water-noise heard round the bog.

Alfred H. Marks

As one might suspect…these are very likely the “translations” (read “interpretations” from a class of grade schoolers completing a class project—students, who cannot read a stroke of kanji…[?]) That “Trumpish” comment made: many of the “translations” one may read in “scholarly” journals, would be hard-pressed to do better.

No-do-haiku too many Sugar Bombs for breakfast,

 Max tdc