Tricycle Talks US Poet Laureate Arthur Sze on Translating Loss and Renewal
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Oct 8, 2025 Arthur Sze, the newly-appointed U.S. Poet Laureate and esteemed translator from Santa Fe, dives deep into the world of poetry. He discusses his unique journey in honing his craft through translation rather than traditional MFA programs. Sze explores the tension of loss and renewal in translation, revealing how this process shapes poetry. The conversation also touches on the rich history of Chinese poetry and the importance of cultural exchange in today's world, alongside poignant readings from his latest collection.
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Translation Carries Spirit Not Form
- Arthur Sze treats translation as an act that inevitably loses form but can carry a poem's spirit across languages.
- He argues translation is urgent for cultural exchange and global understanding.
Handwriting Each Character To Enter The Poem
- Sze writes each Chinese poem stroke by stroke in his own hand and places clusters of English words under each character to capture its field of energy.
- He lives with translations slowly, producing maybe one or two poems a year across decades.
Ancient Poems Remain Present
- Ancient poems can feel immediate and present despite being centuries old, revealing enduring human concerns.
- Sze highlights Tao Yuanming's non-attachment and lyrical precision as timeless poetic teaching.
