[Michael Cantor]

My poem, In the District of the Translators, is now up on Christine Yurick's Think Journal website, complete with sound recording. Here's the link. What is interesting here is that listeners have their choice of two readings - mine or Christine's. As Christine indicates, "Editor’s note: I read all of the poems I publish out loud, sometimes many, many times, and this one particularly intrigued me. I’ve always been interested in the way poets read their own work. Michael and I discussed this, and agreed that it would be an interesting exercise to provide the poem with two readings, from two voices, to provide two interpretations."

[W.F. Lantry]

Very cool, Michael! Your voice sounds good, in spite of the questionable microphone. One really silly question: does your voice sound the same in your head as when you hear it recorded? I can never get mine to sound the way I think I sound...

Thanks,

Bill

[David Landrum]

Great, Michael. Congratulations.

dwl

[Catherine Chandler]

Michael,
A powerful poem. The exercise of the two recordings is interesting. One gets two separate impressions. Congrats on its publication.

[Philip Quinlan]

Michael

i remember not getting this when you workshopped it here.

I have changed my mind. Maybe I'm more attuned to magical realism these days?

If I may make so bold as to say one thing, though, (and it may be a U.S. / U.K. difference of perspective) I think you underplay the music of the poem in your reading (as does Christine.) Personally I'd read it with much more cadence. Perhaps I'll have a go, and send you my take?

But it's a good poem for all that. And a good journal.

Not in bad company either!

Philip

PS

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaor last night’s lovers,
and they are rarely satisfied

is a pretty fine enjambment, IMO.

P

[Adam Elgar]

A rich and subtle exploration of the translator's agony, Michael. Congratulations indeed! And more than that, you ponder deeply on the doubtfulness of the whole process of communication between one mind and another.
I like your reading - just a bit too solemn, maybe, but I much prefer it to CY's, which works too hard - though all praise to her for publishing your poem.

Congratulations also to Jennifer, Nemo and Shaun, whose poems I was catching for the first time.

[Rick Mullin]

That is a tremendous poem Michael. Congrats.
RM

[Lance Levens]

Excellent work, Michael.

[Tim Murphy]

Fine poem, fine reading. Reminds me of Dick Davis' Translator's Nightmare.

[Martin Rocek]

Congratulations! I really enjoyed the poem and your reading.

Martin