This poet has a real attitude, and I really like his attitude. Your analysis seems spot on.
But, I have a “But”.
In this translation, the word “sea– mount” really threw me for a loop. Did the poet mean seamount, an actual mountain under the sea, or is the hyphenated “sea-mount” an attempt at a more mystical entity? Likely.
I conjured an image of a warrior God like creature riding a large seahorse. Wrong.
Doing my own research, I discovered that the fish in Sichuan Province is highly prized for its flavor and tastiness.
I took one pass at a rudimentary Ai translation, and it was revealing enough for me.
The sea-mount the translator refers to is a mystical, magical place. Or is it a hybrid vision?
My AI translator gave me this for the second part of the poem:
“I still don’t recognize it
when it turns into a butterfly,
but I can envy the Sichuan fish.
There are fairy mountains
on the sea, and I will feel
magical changes when I return.”
I would guess a much richer image exists than “fairy mountain” for what the poet intended.
How did you decide on “sea-mount”? Did you intend it as both a place and as an entity that carries a rider? The sea itself could be a mount to convey oneself.
Thanks for bringing this poet to my attention. I am really enjoying his work. Your work also.
Huh, that's a good point. Yeah, the source text says: 'on the sea/there is/fairy mountain'
Chinese readers would have recognised the reference to Penglai (or possibly another of the mythic mountains). I'll see if I can rework it to make it a little clearer!
This poet has a real attitude, and I really like his attitude. Your analysis seems spot on.
But, I have a “But”.
In this translation, the word “sea– mount” really threw me for a loop. Did the poet mean seamount, an actual mountain under the sea, or is the hyphenated “sea-mount” an attempt at a more mystical entity? Likely.
I conjured an image of a warrior God like creature riding a large seahorse. Wrong.
Doing my own research, I discovered that the fish in Sichuan Province is highly prized for its flavor and tastiness.
I took one pass at a rudimentary Ai translation, and it was revealing enough for me.
The sea-mount the translator refers to is a mystical, magical place. Or is it a hybrid vision?
My AI translator gave me this for the second part of the poem:
“I still don’t recognize it
when it turns into a butterfly,
but I can envy the Sichuan fish.
There are fairy mountains
on the sea, and I will feel
magical changes when I return.”
I would guess a much richer image exists than “fairy mountain” for what the poet intended.
How did you decide on “sea-mount”? Did you intend it as both a place and as an entity that carries a rider? The sea itself could be a mount to convey oneself.
Thanks for bringing this poet to my attention. I am really enjoying his work. Your work also.
Huh, that's a good point. Yeah, the source text says: 'on the sea/there is/fairy mountain'
Chinese readers would have recognised the reference to Penglai (or possibly another of the mythic mountains). I'll see if I can rework it to make it a little clearer!