Hmm, thank you for posting that translation. I did not know the Cavafy original rhymed. All the translations I have read of Cavafy have indeed been in free verse. I like it--but that may be less because of the translation and more because I treasure Cavafy, not only because he is one of the few "gay" poets who actually writes about something more interesting than "coming out," but because he writes with such fierceness about aging and lost youth--as amply evidenced in this particular poem.
I admit I am completely astounded that Pinsky writes up translations without knowing the acutal language he is translating! The chutzpah is admirable, though it does make me hesitant to actually read any of his "translations." At least as far as Dante, I will stick to John Ciardi. But I was amazed to see such polarization in the reviews of Amazon. If I remember correctly, one person said "The death of poetry begins here." I thought I was reading a review of Rod McKuen or Jewel!
nyctom
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