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bookiecharm's review
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
3.0
Nature poems that are far too elusive and mysterious for my taste. I did enjoy comparing the multiple translations of several of these poems in this particular edition.
a_serpent_with_corners's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Absolutely decadent - economy of language, but not of image. Show this to anyone who goes on about the 'clarity' of Tang poetry. That isn't to say that there are no straightforward poems in the collection - 春宵自遣 (Spring Night, Cheering Myself Up) for example - but what really leaves an impression is the mesmerising transformations of lamplight, perfume, tears, smoke, burning flowers, etc. The two Hibisucs poems, 槿花二首, and Brocade Zither, 錦瑟, give a good sense of what you're in for here.
As Roberts says in her introduction, these interpretations aim to embrace the elusive and ambiguous qualities of Li Shangyin's work, which she accomplishes. You might even argue that she introduces these qualities further into some poems. Take the line 分曹射覆蠟燈紅 from one of the Untitled poems: other translations have it as 'picking teams, guessing games. The candle is burning red' or 'Teamed as rivals, guessed what the cup hid. The candle flame reddened,' whereas Roberts gives us 'Broken into teams,/In reddened candlelight, we guess, we subvert,' completely changing the atmosphere of this otherwise innocuous pastime, making it conspiratorial, perhaps sinister. Although it might be less accurate (apparently, 射覆 is a game in which players try to guess what is underneath an upside-down vessel), 覆 can also mean subvert, and this reading is definitely arresting.
The parallel translations are useful (my literary Chinese is not very good!), and the ability to compare with Klein and Graham's translations are a welcome addition. Roberts' extra line breaks give a pleasant sense of the rhythm compared to the long strings of words you get in some English translations. It is a shame, however, that the end notes are not indicated on the poems - they are easily overlooked.
As Roberts says in her introduction, these interpretations aim to embrace the elusive and ambiguous qualities of Li Shangyin's work, which she accomplishes. You might even argue that she introduces these qualities further into some poems. Take the line 分曹射覆蠟燈紅 from one of the Untitled poems: other translations have it as 'picking teams, guessing games. The candle is burning red' or 'Teamed as rivals, guessed what the cup hid. The candle flame reddened,' whereas Roberts gives us 'Broken into teams,/In reddened candlelight, we guess, we subvert,' completely changing the atmosphere of this otherwise innocuous pastime, making it conspiratorial, perhaps sinister. Although it might be less accurate (apparently, 射覆 is a game in which players try to guess what is underneath an upside-down vessel), 覆 can also mean subvert, and this reading is definitely arresting.
The parallel translations are useful (my literary Chinese is not very good!), and the ability to compare with Klein and Graham's translations are a welcome addition. Roberts' extra line breaks give a pleasant sense of the rhythm compared to the long strings of words you get in some English translations. It is a shame, however, that the end notes are not indicated on the poems - they are easily overlooked.
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