Through my mentorship, I have come to realise that translating poetry is a nuanced art. It demands a deep understanding of both the source and target languages, an appreciation of the cultural and emotional contexts within which the original poem was crafted and empathy within myself as the translator. My mentor, Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma, provided invaluable guidance on navigating the intricacies of poetry translation, imparting ways to balance fidelity to the original text with the need to create a resonant and impactful poem in the target language. Over six inspiring sessions, our discussions shaped my translation practice profoundly. He guided me to discover a pragmatic framework for exploration of the poem, drawing from his own experiences translating the Kural.
Throughout our sessions, Thomas provided feedback on my translations, gently pointing out other possibilities for phrasing and word choice. His comments were not prescriptive, rather they were exploratory, inviting me to consider various options and to trust my instincts. Thanks to the exercises and discussions I explored with Thomas, I gained insights and confidence to play and seek out how I can further experiment with my translations to infuse it with the poet’s lyricism and more.
When I was in secondary school, we had to paint Van Gogh’s room once during art class. I remember my art teacher said this to the class: “You need to draw a floor so that the things in the room don’t look like they are floating around.” This was how I felt about my understanding of the creative writing craft . All my gleanings from Creative Writing workshops and lectures felt as if they are orbiting in my head that I may recall on whim during the writing/editing process, lacking the structure and framework I craved. However, unlike my Creative Writing lessons, I feel that I have come away from my mentorship with Thomas equipped with what I need to translate poems, the ability to trust my inner knowing when entering a poem, when being in conversation with it, to sit with the poem, versions of it and much more. My mentorship with Thomas was an enriching experience that profoundly shaped my approach to poetry translation. I learned to see translation as a dynamic and creative process, one that requires both fidelity to the original and the freedom to explore new expressive possibilities. Through practical exercises and feedback, I learned to navigate the challenges of translation and to produce work that honours the spirit and artistry of the original poems. These lessons are invaluable. I deeply appreciate Thomas’s emphasis on the technical skills and deep empathy required to translate poems. This journey has not only improved my translation skills but also deepened my appreciation for the art of poetry itself. I am grateful to have learnt from Thomas.
