Selected Poems and Prose of Paul Celan in Poetry Readers Challenge

Dec 06, 2007 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: german-ic-y, poetry, favoritos, 5-stars, translation

Paul Celan stands among the most powerful poets. His poems are distilled and piercing, usually compact yet heavy constructions of well chosen words. Most poetry readers know his story. Born in eastern Europe to Jewish, German-speaking parents, he lost his parents to Nazi criminals, as well as any sense of “home,” I would assume. It’s strangely just that the greatest poet of the holocaust is a native German speaker. S/he just as well could have been Polish or Dutch or Italian or Hungarian. But he ...more

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Mar 25, 2021 Thomasin Propson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: borrowed, poetry, wwii, anthology

I wish every poetry collection were published like this one. Beyond the poetry itself (which was amazing*) the book - the published pages I hold in my hands - was superior to the other poetry anthologies/collections I've read recently (maybe ever). Here's why I say this:

(1) the introduction [acknowledgements and preface] provided background to this translator's work and methods and provided insight into the poet's life and how we - the world - are gifted and prize art that, if we were to be giv I wish every poetry collection were published like this one. Beyond the poetry itself (which was amazing*) the book - the published pages I hold in my hands - was superior to the other poetry anthologies/collections I've read recently (maybe ever). Here's why I say this:

(1) the introduction [acknowledgements and preface] provided background to this translator's work and methods and provided insight into the poet's life and how we - the world - are gifted and prize art that, if we were to be given a choice of 'change the horrible things that happened that inspired this' or 'let it happen so we could see these resulting works' would choose (almost probably absolutely) the first option, and yet we may struggle somewhat with knowing how much we'd miss the art produced. Anyway, I appreciated the translator's introduction to the collection - not just the 'why' but also the 'how' it was brought together, looking at others' translations.

(2) the body of the book has the original German on the left page, its translation into English on the right page. I like the side-by-side presentation. I know this isn't the only book to present a translated work in this way, but I always appreciate when it's done and miss it (usually belatedly) when it is absent.

(3) including prose selections (e.g. speeches) by the poet was a nice touch. See, he didn't only speak in metaphor and rhyme!

(4) the references at the end, providing insight into how specific words or metaphors used or the events or people referenced, was brilliant. LOVED the touch, though I didn't see it was there until the end, and so had to to back and reread to see what I missed. I wish every book of poetry had such flashes of insight added.

(5) even the Indexes at the end are printed nicely, in fine print and both in German and English - it just looks useful/neat.

(6) finally - this physical copy's floppiness is satisfying (if not the most floppy, nevertheless very adequate, which is more than I can say of other collections I've read lately which have been stiff or even hard cover). Never underestimate the "feel" of a book and its influence on the reader.

*The poetry: As with all art, some of it spoke to me and some did not, and undoubtedly what I find draws me in would change upon re-readings. The poems that appear to have won awards and are Celan's most well-known were not the works I seem to like most, though I don't know how well known or obscure the other poems I like may be.

I most enjoyed: "Nocture," "The Tankards," "Count up the almonds," "I Heard it Said," "Speak You Too," "Ice, Eden," "Threadsuns," and "Whichever Stone You Lift," which I have here below, in its entirety:

Whichever stone you lift
you lay bare
those who need the protection of the stones.
naked,
now they renew their entwinement

Whichever tree you fell -
you frame
the bedstead where
souls are stayed once again,
as if this aeon too
did not tremble.

Whichever word you speak -
you owe to
destruction. ...more

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