Glenn Hughes on Sextus Propertius
At one of his lectures, Glenn Hughes, then a Professor at the University of Washington, before his retirement, might have been discussing Ezra Pound's "Homage to Sextus Propertius" with his class of student scriptwriters. If so, he might have suggested an idea for a screenplay where:
Sextus Propertius, a poet acquaintance of Ovid's from when they were both in favor at the court of Augustus, might have sent Ovid a translation of a Chinese poem into Latin. The Chinese poem might have referred to a poet having been sent into exile by the Court. So it would have had resonance for those thinking of Ovid's plight, exiled somewhere far away on the Black Sea on the edge of civilization.
If so, Glenn Hughes might have said that the poem below might resemble an earlier poem by a predecessor of Tu Fu, living in the Han Dynasty, whose work might have been known to the Romans. And by the way, he might have reminded his class, but modesty forbade it, he once met Ezra Pound in Paris back in the day!
On Dreaming of Li Po
by Tu Fu
i
I’ve kept silent
no-one knows my anguish
who doesn’t feel sad
when a friend leaves
but when they sent you away
I was so overcome with grief
it was if you had died
since they exiled you in the South
among fens and swamps
I haven’t stopped thinking of you
though I’ve heard no news
until last night
when you appeared in my dreams
you’re imprisoned in such darkness
you’re so far away
how could you find wings to fly to
me?
was it your ghost?
when you appeared
shadows lifted
everything was green
when you were gone
there was darkness
overpowering the mountains
moonlight passed through the trees
shone onto the rafters
somewhere your face
shone vaguely
old friend
be careful!
a storm approaches
those swamps are deep
don’t let the river dragon catch
you
ii
still south bound clouds pass by
you who went with them
haven’t returned
for three nights I’ve dreamt of
you
cheered by your company
when we said goodbye
I saw anxiety in your face
struggle is never ending
your way home is hard
storms are approaching
your boat may capsize
you left your door
scratching your white head
dismayed at your treatment
while others enjoy favor
you were cast out
downtrodden sad
growing old
lonely
if this be your fate
there is no justice in the world
don’t be ashamed
mix misfortune with your old age
think only of your fame
your fame will last forever
let loneliness take care of itself
Tu
Fu
translated by David Sen
interpreted by Dick Russell
copyright © Dick Russell 2016
