On Pound's Translation of Li Bai's Long-term Works

Ezra pound (1885- 1972) is an influential poet and translator in the world. His early imagist poems were fresh in style and gorgeous in language, and became a pioneer of a generation. Out of his love for oriental culture, he translated and recreated the poems of great poets such as Li Bai, Li Qingzhao and Tao Yuanming, which made China's excellent poems on the world poetry scene. He was politically reactionary and tried to cheer for fascism. The US Reserve Court convicted him of treason in World War II, and later his writing was terminated due to insanity.

River merchant's wife: a letter

Ezra Pound

When my hair was cut straight on my forehead

I play near the front door and pick flowers.

You come here on a bamboo pole, playing with horses,

You walked around my seat, playing with blue plums.

We continue to live in Chokan's village:

Two little people, neither dislike nor suspicion.

When I was fourteen, I married my master, you.

I never laugh because I am shy.

I looked down at the wall.

Called a thousand times, I never look back.

When I was fifteen, I stopped frowning.

I hope my dust is mixed with yours.

Forever, ever, ever.

Why did I climb the observation deck?

You left when you were sixteen,

You went to the distant Ku to Yan, by the whirlpool river,

You've been away for five months,

The monkey made a sad sound overhead.

You dragged your feet when you went out,

Now by the door, moss grows, different mosses,

It's too deep to clear!

Leaves fall early with the wind this autumn.

Pairs of butterflies have turned yellow with August.

Across the grass in the West Garden;

They hurt me. I'm getting old.

If you want to cross the narrow channel of the Yangtze River,

Please let me know in advance,

I'll come out to see you,

It's in Chaofusa.

Li Baiyuan's poems:

Long-term Travel (Wife of a River Merchant: Letter from Home)

My hair barely covers my forehead.

I'm picking flowers and paying by the door.

When you, my love, ride a bamboo horse.

Trot around and throw green plums.

We live together in an alley with long roots.

We are both young and happy.

I became your wife when I was fourteen.

I'm too shy to laugh. I haven't done anything yet.

I lowered my head to the dark corner.

Won't respond to your thousands of calls.

But when I was fifteen, I frowned and laughed.

Know that no dust can seal our love.

I will wait for you to die in my post.

In the silent watchtower, we will never lose confidence. (What a pity)

When I was sixteen, you embarked on a long journey.

Pre-pile in Qutang. Pre-water side

Then in the fifth month, I couldn't help it anymore.

Apes are crying in the sky. (The sound is ringing)

Your footprints are in front of our door. I have looked at the places where you have been. (It's late to do old things)

Are hidden under the green moss. (Green makes people pale)

It is too deep under the moss to be removed.

The first autumn wind brought fallen leaves.

Hu Die is yellow in August.

Circling, two by two, in our west garden lawn.

Because of all this, my heart is broken.

I'm worried about my bright cheeks lest they fade.

Oh, finally, when you come back through three Pa areas.

Send me a message home in advance! .

I will come to see you, and I won't mind the distance.

All the way to Shachangfeng

Generally speaking, The Wife of a River Merchant: Letter from Home is the Long March translated by Pound. Due to Pound's lack of understanding of China culture, there are many mistranslations in his poems, such as "Bamboo Horse" translated into bamboo stilts. Formally, the original poem is a strict five-character poem, while Pound's translated poem is a blank poem. There is a certain gap between the theme connotation of Pound's translated poems and the original poems. There are many differences between the two poems in tone and emotion. Here, take the last section as an example. The heroine in the original poem, seeing butterflies flying in two directions, misses autumn ("My heart is broken for this, and I'm afraid my bright cheeks will fade"), and hopes her husband will come back soon, claiming that "I will come to see you, and I won't mind the distance, all the way to the long sandstorm." That's very affectionate. Pang Shi said, "They hurt me. I am getting old. " It is very stiff and inflexible. The following sentence pattern of "if" ... please shows the coldness of the heroine's tone and her estrangement from her husband. She will also meet her husband who returned from a long trip, "as far as Zhaofusa", that's all. Therefore, the poem translated by Pound is actually his re-creation, and the heroine in the poem is also more modern. This poem is a must for many American poetry selections. In this sense, we can completely understand it as Pound's own masterpiece.