Where the Poetry Gets Stepped on

Li Po and Tu Fu: Poems by Li Bai
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Gotta admit--I didn't love it. This book is mostly introduction and annotations--probably less than 30% is poetry. And the poetry was the whole reason I got it.

Sure, the annotations, the lengthy explications, and the careful interpretation of unfamiliar idioms and allusions were useful, in a way. This is a primer in reading the poetry of these two men. For those studying their poetry, I would happily recommend this volume.

For the rest of us just wanting to read poetry and get lost in it, this one will annoy. Sure, I guess I could try re-reading it now, skipping all the extra text. I think I might do that, honestly, and see if I enjoy the translations more. Reading it as written feels more like listening to music on NPR, where you have a 3 minute song and then 10 minutes of discussion. Those proportions are all out of whack.

Ironically, the subtitle of this collection is simply "Poems," as if that's all you'll find here. I wish.

My purpose for reading poetry is to locate those poems or passages I connect with somehow. It's like hunting for easter eggs for me. I keep track of the ones I really liked and eventually copy them into a journal. In some collections, I find reason to genuinely connect with and return to a quarter or more of the poems. This collection: two. Just two. I don't know if it was all the notes on every side being a distraction or if the translations were not quite working for me or if the selection was skewed toward technically interesting poetry rather than human and accessible, but I didn't dig it.

And I wanted to.

Oh yeah. The translator frequently referred to Mao, kinda positively. I think maybe four times. The first time was forgivably odd, but each additional reference doubled and redoubled my disapproval. It soured the experience, honestly.

I'll put it aside and look at it again another day. Today I'm starting a different book. Here's to better luck!

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