The Subtle Art of Translation

'Die Dichtung, meine Damen und Herren :
diese Unendlichsprechung von lauter
Sterblichkeit und Umsonst !' - Paul Celan

Poetry, ladies and gentlemen:

- what an externalization of nothing but mortality, and in vain. (Waldrop)

- this endless speaking of nothing but mortality and gratuitousness. (Lyon)

- this infinity-speaking full of mortality and to no purpose! (Joris)

- this speaking endlessly of mere mortality and uselessness! (Felstiner)

- an expression of infinitude, an expression of vain death and of mere Nothing. (Blanchot)

- just endless and vain twittering about mortality. (Weir)


Don't poets just love wittering on about
the futility of of poetry ?
It doesn't even make us feel less futile.


(with thanks to Almina Kaselis)