Atsushi atsushi to
kado kado no koe

"Too hot too hot"
from gate to gate the cry

With these lines from Basho, I think the first task of the translator is to reproduce the poetic devices, of startling simplicity: repetition and alliteration. One translation I have has: "says a voice at every house-gate." (?) Why the redundant "says"?

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Why do I not get detailed two page emails about the current poetry scene that I can then reproduce on my blog? I am quite glad not to be a poetic powerbroker, whether real or perceived. I did get a nice email from Matsuo Basho recently, which I may reproduce here.