Zhu Yu 朱玉 on her translation of Song of Shadows by Xiao Hai 小海:

As an often-helpless researcher of poets from centuries past, I used to envy those who translated contemporary poetry, for I thought that if they encountered any difficulties, they could always turn to the living author. However, when I translated Xiao Hai’s Song of Shadows, I preferred to waive this privilege. I came to understand translation as the closest form of reading, a process of understanding and re-creation—like playing a piece of music. First, the musician must read the composer’s score correctly, and then she can interpret it in her own style.

For more, including information on Xiao Hai and Song of Shadows, from Restless Books, click the image above.