Class with Mason
Jaun Elia’s Poems: An English Translation : A Window into the Mind of Urdu’s Most Iconic Poet
Tue, 25 Feb 2025
Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Jaun-Elias-Poems-English-Translation-ebook/dp/B0DY3Z5J71 Jaun Elia’s Poems: An English Translation is the first-ever collection of Jaun Elia’s poetry translated into English, bringing the brilliance of one of Urdu’s most celebrated poets to a wider audience.Jaun Elia (1931–2002) was an intellectual, philosopher, and poet whose verses captured the depths of sorrow, love, rebellion, and existential longing. His unique style—marked by sharp wit, haunting melancholy, and raw intensity—has earned him a cult following in the literary world.In this collection of over 80 poems, Mason Carter masterfully translates Elia’s iconic verses while preserving their emotional and philosophical depth. The translations are crafted to maintain the essence of Elia’s signature style, resonating with both poetry lovers and new readers alike.For fans of Rumi, Ghalib, or Charles Bukowski, this book offers a rare and profound poetic experience. Whether you are discovering Jaun Elia for the first time or revisiting his timeless work, this collection promises to stir your soul and ignite your thoughts.Experience the brilliance of Jaun Elia—now in English.
Chapter 1: Why is Jaun Elia significant in Urdu literature?
He's this Pakistani poet who's like hugely popular in Urdu literature, but hasn't really been accessible to English readers until now.
Yeah, that's exciting. This new book is the first ever published collection of his poems translated into English. Oh, wow. It's called John Elias Poems, an English translation. And we've got excerpts to dive into.
Amazing.
Including the translator's preface, which gives us like a really fascinating look into the whole process.
So our mission today is to give you a taste of John Elia's unique voice and help you understand why his work has resonated so deeply with readers. What makes this translation so special? And by the end, you'll know if this book belongs on your shelf.
Yeah, you might just find yourself heading over to Amazon to buy it.
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Chapter 2: What makes the English translation of Jaun Elia's poems special?
For sure. OK, first things first. Who is John Elia? For those of us unfamiliar, can you give us a little background?
Yeah, so John Omnidia was a Pakistani poet who wrote in Urdu. He died in 2002, but his poetry continues to have this deep resonance with readers. He's known for this really raw and honest style that delves into the complexities of love and loss and the human condition.
wow sounds intense and the translator mason carter he's not just a translator right no right at all he's an english literature teacher and a published poet himself right which gives him a really interesting perspective on the whole process he talks about that in the preface right i was struck by how he describes the challenges of translating poetry yeah it's not just about swapping words it's like recreating an entire experience exactly he even compares it to translating humor
saying that a joke, which is hilarious in one language, can fall totally flat in another. Poetry is the same way. It relies so much on the nuances of language, the music of the words, and the cultural context. A literal translation could lose all the magic.
Absolutely. And then you add the cultural barriers. John Elia's poetry is steeped in Urdu literary tradition, which is its own way of expressing love and loss and those big ideas.
He talks about that in the preface to specifically the concept of obsessive love, which is often a celebrated theme in Urdu poetry, but might not resonate the same way with a Western audience. Right. It really highlights the complexities of bringing Elia's work to a new audience.
For sure. Makes you realize translation is almost like an art of cultural diplomacy. Finding ways to bridge those gaps and evoke similar emotional responses.
Absolutely. Speaking of bridges, Carter makes this fascinating choice in his approach to translation. He draws inspiration from Charles Bukowski.
Bukowski, the guy known for his like gritty and unconventional style.
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Chapter 3: How does Mason Carter approach translating Jaun Elia's work?
And those lines about how someone bolted the doors on screaming, even your alley pretends it ain't dreaming.
Yeah.
It paints this picture of a city that's shut itself off from its own pain, its own humanity.
It's a city where dreams have been stifled, where even the darkest corners pretend they haven't witnessed the struggles of its people. Right. But even in that bleakness, there's a sense of resilience. It's like he's saying, even in this graveyard, life persists. We keep dreaming. We keep hoping, even when it feels like everything around us is crumbling.
And you know when you read his work. you can't help but be struck by the way he uses language.
I know. It's so direct, so visceral.
It's true. There's no pretense, no flowery language.
Right.
It's almost conversational, like he's sitting across from you, sharing his innermost thoughts and feelings.
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