THE POEM ITSELF

In an impressive collection of modern European and South American poems, Stanley Burnshaw, novelist, poet, and scholar brings the English speaking reader closer than he might have believed possible to the essence of hitherto obscure verse. By including the original poem with literal translations of each line, he then proceeds to elaborate on the various poetic meanings that are contained within the literal translation. Aided by sundry illustrious translators and critics--Dudley Fitts, Henri Peyre, John Nims, and others-- Stanley Burnshaw's approach to the problems of translating is direct. He is not bogged down by concessions to English diction, but conveys the reader swiftly to the core of the original Spanish, French, Italian and German expression. Finally such difficult poets as Lorca, Neruda, Rilke, and Claudel are relieved of the trusses of English conceits with which we generally encounter them and revealed in their full and natural potency. Forty-four poets, an appendix, notes on the prosodies, notes on pronunciation, and notes on the contributors add further substance to this ambitious work which should be of interest to scholars and to readers who profess a knowledgeable interest in contemporary literature.