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The Spirit of Place
Here I am in Mexico, earlier than usual this year, though we may be back again in April. As ever, I’ve brought some Spanish translations along to enhance what Lawrence called “the Spirit of Place.” One is Roberto Bolaño’a novel of murder and sexual obsession, The Skating Rink, at least one quote from which will be turning up in this week’s Friday Notebook. I’ve also been reading Stephen Kessler’s fine translations of Luis Cernuda‘s last poems, Desolation of the Chimera.Read More
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The Music of Borges
I’ve had great amateur fun in the past playing with translation, which for me is an adventure as much in sound as in meaning. While reading the new Penguin bilingual edition of Jorge Luis Borges’s sonnets, a book that highlights a side of Borges American readers may be unfamiliar with, I was struck by how strong the translations are overall. (This is a tribute to the collection’s editor, Stephen Kessler.) So strong are these versions, in fact, that the weaker ones—a fraction of the 137 poems gathered here—really stand out. One version in particular, Alan S.Read More
Joseph Hutchison, Colorado Poet Laureate 2014-2019, has published 20 collections of poems and edited or co-edited three poetry anthologies. He currently directs two master’s-level programs for University College at the University of Denver: Professional Creative Writing and Arts & Culture Management. Joe lives with his wife, Melody Madonna, in the mountains southwest of Denver, Colorado, the city where he was born. 
