Fir-Flower Tablets: Poems Translated from the Chinese

A delicate bridge between two distant literary traditions, this collection gathers Chinese poems rendered into English with both scholarly care and poetic sensitivity. The work emerged from a unique partnership: a scholar‑translator who lived among the Chinese language and culture, and an American poet tasked with shaping literal renderings into verses that echo the original spirit. Their long‑standing friendship and shared curiosity give the volume a quiet, collaborative charm that invites listeners into a world of ancient lyricism.

The translators delve beyond mere word‑for‑word meaning, exploring how the visual form of Chinese characters adds hidden layers to each line. By preserving those subtle allusions while crafting fluid English poetry, the book offers a vivid sense of the original’s texture and emotion. Listeners will hear images of mist‑shrouded mountains, fleeting blossoms, and timeless reflections, all presented in language that feels both fresh and reverent to its source.