English translation Poems

Popular English translation Poems
English Translations of Uyghur Poems by Michael R. Burch
by Michael R. Burch

These are modern English translations of Uyghur poems by Michael R. Burch, an American translator, editor and publisher of Holocaust and Nakba poetry.

Perhat Tursun (1969-) is one of the foremost living Uyghur language poets, if he is still alive. Tursun has been described as a "self-professed Kafka character" and that comes through splendidly in poems of his like "Elegy." Unfortunately, Tursun has been "disappeared" into a despicable Chinese "reeducation" concentration camp where extreme psychological torture is the norm. According to a disturbing report he was later "hospitalized."

Elegy
by Perhat Tursun
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

"Your soul is the entire world."
— Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

......

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Martial translations to modern English
by Michael R. Burch

These are modern English translations of Martial epigrams and poems, some with the original Latin.

You ask me why I've sent you no new verses?
There might be reverses.
—Martial, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

You ask me to recite my poems to you?
I know how you'll 'recite' them, if I do.
—Martial, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch


......

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Russian Poetry Translations
by Michael R. Burch

These are my modern English translations of poems by Russian poets...

Vera Pavlova English Translations of Russian Poems

I shattered your heart;
now I limp through the shards
barefoot.
—Vera Pavlova, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Winter? a beast.

......

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Fukuda Chiyo-ni translations by Michael R. Burch
by Michael R. Burch

Fukuda Chiyo-ni

Fukuda Chiyo-ni (1703-1775) was a justly celebrated Japanese poet, haikuist, painter and calligrapher of the Edo period. Also known as Kaga no Chiyo, she began writing haiku at age seven and was popular throughout Japan by age seventeen. In her early fifties she became a Buddhist nun, shaved her head, adopted the name Soen (“Escape”), and took up residence in a temple.

These are Japanese haiku by Fukuda Chiyo-ni in modern English translations by Michael R. Burch

Where possible, I have included the original Japanese text.

Because morning glories
held my well-bucket hostage

......

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Huang E translations by Michael R. Burch
by Michael R. Burch

SORROWS OF THE WILD GEESE by HUANG E

Sent to My Husband
by Huang E
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

The wild geese never fly beyond Hengyang ...
how then can my brocaded words reach Yongchang?

Like wilted willow flowers I am ill-fated indeed;

......

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Recent English translation Poems
English Translations of Uyghur Poems by Michael R. Burch
by Michael R. Burch

These are modern English translations of Uyghur poems by Michael R. Burch, an American translator, editor and publisher of Holocaust and Nakba poetry.

Perhat Tursun (1969-) is one of the foremost living Uyghur language poets, if he is still alive. Tursun has been described as a "self-professed Kafka character" and that comes through splendidly in poems of his like "Elegy." Unfortunately, Tursun has been "disappeared" into a despicable Chinese "reeducation" concentration camp where extreme psychological torture is the norm. According to a disturbing report he was later "hospitalized."

Elegy
by Perhat Tursun
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

"Your soul is the entire world."
— Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

......

Continue reading
Huang E translations by Michael R. Burch
by Michael R. Burch

SORROWS OF THE WILD GEESE by HUANG E

Sent to My Husband
by Huang E
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

The wild geese never fly beyond Hengyang ...
how then can my brocaded words reach Yongchang?

Like wilted willow flowers I am ill-fated indeed;

......

Continue reading
Fukuda Chiyo-ni translations by Michael R. Burch
by Michael R. Burch

Fukuda Chiyo-ni

Fukuda Chiyo-ni (1703-1775) was a justly celebrated Japanese poet, haikuist, painter and calligrapher of the Edo period. Also known as Kaga no Chiyo, she began writing haiku at age seven and was popular throughout Japan by age seventeen. In her early fifties she became a Buddhist nun, shaved her head, adopted the name Soen (“Escape”), and took up residence in a temple.

These are Japanese haiku by Fukuda Chiyo-ni in modern English translations by Michael R. Burch

Where possible, I have included the original Japanese text.

Because morning glories
held my well-bucket hostage

......

Continue reading
Russian Poetry Translations
by Michael R. Burch

These are my modern English translations of poems by Russian poets...

Vera Pavlova English Translations of Russian Poems

I shattered your heart;
now I limp through the shards
barefoot.
—Vera Pavlova, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Winter? a beast.

......

Continue reading
Martial translations to modern English
by Michael R. Burch

These are modern English translations of Martial epigrams and poems, some with the original Latin.

You ask me why I've sent you no new verses?
There might be reverses.
—Martial, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

You ask me to recite my poems to you?
I know how you'll 'recite' them, if I do.
—Martial, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch


......

Continue reading
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