US Poet Laureate's Secret: Handwriting to Halt Time

America's poet laureate, Arthur Sze, translates ancient Chinese poetry by hand. He writes each Chinese character slowly, matching the deliberate pace of a brush stroke. For him, this physical act is essential. It forces a resistance to modern speed. This careful method is central to his craft. Sze believes poetry must be treated with great care. Only then can it cross languages and cultures without losing its depth. He translates only poems he deeply loves. Over his entire 50-year career, he has completed just 75 translations. This extreme selectivity underscores his philosophy: true translation is an act of devotion, not volume. It requires slowing down to grasp the full weight of each word.