“How brightly the clear moon light speaks to me,
Gives me courage for the journey:
‘Follow true the ancient pathway,
Choose no homeland for yourself!’”

--Friedrich von Schlegel, set to music by Franz Schubert

Human beings have always been nomadic. In a country like the United States, most of us have only been here for a few generations. Even much older countries have been changed beyond recognition, again and again, by massive migrations over hundreds and thousands of years. Poetry is an expression of the instinct to wander - from the leisurely travels of the fortunate, to the plight of immigrants and refugees, to perpetual wandering as a conscious choice. In this writing course we will look at how, through the medium of translation, poetry moves in a landscape beyond national and cultural boundaries, and lives both at the core and outer edges of language.

We will read poems from different historical periods, from medieval China to nineteenth century Europe to our own globalized times, tracing how dreams and visions and even the languor of a long-gone afternoon echo across vast stretches of time. We will also explore music and visual art inspired by poetry, moving toward a notion of “poetics” that embraces all of life. Students are encouraged to draw connections of sense and sensibility between texts from disparate sources. This will happen through in-class discussion, written responses both analytic and creative, and three essays which will be written and revised through the course of the semester.

Class Format:

Seminar