Translation Zine 2022

15 classical Chinese poems in translation, plus process notes and rough drafts.

Excerpts:

Fading orchids in mourning garb
  line the Xianyang road,
If the heavens too could feel,
  the heavens would grow old.

Li He, “Song of the Bronze Immortal Leaving the Han”

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going but not coming    departing but not returning,
the plains untended    the roads unending.
bearing long swords    clutching Qin bows,
heads and bodies parted    hearts still untried.
indeed both courageous    and accompanied by Wu,
staunch to the end    broken by none.
bodies stopped in death    both spark and spirit,
steadfast souls    heroes among ghosts.

Qu Yuan, “Our Martyrs” (from the Songs of Chu)

***

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