One difference that struck me right off the bat was how all but Ezra Pound’s translation called the plums the two characters played with green (Line 4). Having read the Pound translation before the others set me up with the notion that the objective truth is that the plums these two toss around are blue in color. But every other translation, when the plums are mentioned, call them green. Is Pound’s grasp of the original Chinese just that much worse than the other translators’? I’d think that these two colors would be difficult to mix up. It’s not even so much the color, as it is the fact that green fruit are typically unripe, and a blue plum would be considered ripe. If the other translations say “green” to convey a tone of the lack of readiness the girl has for her relationship to her lover, then that would make sense. But why then does Pound call the plums blue? Is that also metaphorical and symbolic for the state of their relationship? I don’t think so, I think someone messed up real bad in this translation, even though Pound’s was the absolute best out of them all.
Second difference would be in Witter Bynner’s translation. In his translation, Line 12, he writes, “Learning that no dust could ever seal our love”. Not so much a difference but the energy it conveys made me feel different about this part than when I read the other translations. The other translations make it clear that even in death, when they are both ashes and dust, they are together, forever. But this line confuses me mostly because the word “seal” makes me think that the translator means the exact opposite of what the other translators imply. That death is not a state where love exists. That in this translation, their love transcends the bounds of death, that being dust and ash does not appeal to the girl. That they take on a form of love that death can’t tie down, can’t seal. Which is pretty much what the other translations say, but this translation in particular expresses this sentiment so much more powerfully.
A third difference is between the line “And I will come and meet you and will never mind the distance” (Line 29) in Bynner’s translation, in comparison to Yip’s, Pound’s, Lowell’s, and Obata’s translations. Bynner does it again, manages to convey a deeper, heavier meaning to this line than anyone else. “I will never mind the distance” paints an incredibly strong portrait of devotion and loyalty, whereas the others say something along the lines of “i’ll meet you at the place”. Like alright, that’s nice I guess.
Ezra Pound’s translation is the best. It was a genuine pleasure to read. Bynner’s is a close second. The other translations paled in comparison. I HATED FLETCHER’S TRANSLATION. GO HOME FLETCHER. NOBODY LIKES YOU. I’d also like to say that the word “skyey” in Obata’s translation (Line 23) is a terrible word that should never be used again by anyone ever.