Poetry Club Talks…Translation with Sean Dwyer

Posted byShannon LawsPosted inPoetry ClubTags:, , , , , , , , ,

Topic: Translation
Host: Ron
Poem: W.S. Merwin’s translation of Pablo Neruda’s “Poema 20”
Recorded: January 9, 2021

Dwyer vs Merwin / Poem 20

We have a guest this week! Author, poet, musician, Western Washington University Spanish professor, and host of the monthly Village Books Open Mic Sean Dwyer joins the club today.

Under the microscope are two poems; W.S. Merwin’s Spanish/English translation of Pablo Neruda’s (b.1904-d.1973) “Poema 20” vs. Sean’s translation.   Open up the document (attached) and follow along as Sean takes us line by line, explaining the difference between native and dictionary translation, the importance of cultural understanding, the effort to keep the original rhyming scheme, and more.  

 
We packed the presentation and Q/A into one show
 
Guide
Start – 43:00 minutes is a line by line exploration
43:00 – 48:00 Sean reads his translation in Spanish
48:00 – 1:20:00 Group Questions and Answer
1:20:00 – We close with Pablo himself reading the original “Poem 20”  
 
-Thank you Sean for joining us today.  It was a delight!
 
Please visit Sean’s website to learn more about this fascinating writer:
https://www.seandwyerauthor.com/quest
 
photo: Dwyer, Author photo and the cover of his latest book “Quest for Tears” about his recovery from a traumatic brain injury.  

Published by Shannon Laws

Shannon Laws is an award-winning poet, performer, and advocate for the arts. She has been recognized with two Mayor’s Arts Awards and the Dr. Asha Bhargava Memorial Award — Community Champion. Her work has been featured in numerous journals and anthologies, and she has captivated audiences at esteemed literary events, including the Jack McCarthy Evergreen Invitational Slam, SpeakEasy, Poetry Night, Kitchen Sessions, and the West Coast Tagore Festival. Beyond her writing and performances, Shannon actively fosters literary and artistic communities. Since 2022, she has curated Corridor, a monthly “found-art” zine project that showcases the work of more than 50 contributing poets and artists. She is also the founder and host of Poetry Club, an engaging discussion group established in 2015.

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