pickI love this collection for a few reasons. 1. This should be taught in place of Emily Dickinson‘s little innuendo poems, because all of these are far more clever (in my opinion). 2. How beautifully arranged it is! Including the Nôm alphabet that the poet originally wrote in, modern Vietnamese text, and English translations side by side. So beautiful to see the language change shape like this.
Pardon my planner‘s language and my horrid handwriting 😂 but getting a few days head start on the February reading list. I‘ve mapped out my TBR pile over the next few months - and made my goal for January! Starting off with some poetry, and ending with poet-and-essayist Clint Smith‘s new book, How The Word Is Passed. Wish me luck!
pickI noticed the sexual references in some of the poetry, but others I had to read the translator's notes. Because the native language could mean two separate things, but the way Hô Xuân Huong wrote it, physically, it was sexual which is marvelous because she was a concubine in the early 1800s. I just thought most of it lovely.
#FoodandLit @Texreader @Catsandbooks
I tend to read books of poetry over time, savoring them. I've been wanting to finish this one but it has been misplaced among my myriads of books. 😳 Driving me crazy!!!!
pickI finished this today as well, my book of poetry in translation not about love (all though there are a lot of double entendres!) for the @bookriot #ReadHarder challenge. It really got me thinking about how difficult it would be to translate from a tonal language to English, as the translator made extensive notes about some of the meaning that is lost or obscured in so doing. The pic is my two favorites from the collection.
I meant to post this yesterday for the #aprilbookshowers prompt #womenintranslation but I had left it in the car! This is the book of poetry I got for the read harder challenge. The back says she is one of Vietnam's greatest classical poets, and most of the poetry has veiled political criticism throughout. @RealLifeReading
Vietnamese West Lake Lotus tea and the poetry if Ho Xuan Huong. Looking forward to this one.
Spring Essence: The Poetry of Hò? Xuân H??ng | 
