The Poetryzine Magazine presents the interview of the American author Stanley H. Barkan conducted by Irma Kurti
Stanley H. Barkan, born in 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, is a poet, translator, editor, and publisher. He grew up in East New York among many who fled Nazi-dominated Europe. He was fascinated by the languages they spoke and the stories they told of how and why they left Europe. This interest in other languages formed the basis of his life and work as a cross-culturalist, avidly seeking to learn languages. Throughout Barkan’s 27 years as a teacher in the New York high school system, he acquainted himself with the poetry of many other-language poets, and, eventually, the works of great translators, like Gregory Rabassa, with whom he developed a singular friendship. Eventually, as a small press publisher, he published a lot of other-language poets, in 70 different languages to date. His own poetry has been published in 32 different editions, and in 32 different languages, including several bilingual ones (Albanian, Armenian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, Farsi/Persian, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Sicilian, Spanish, and Urdu).
Poet, translator, editor, and publisher. Which one makes you feel the most like yourself?
Poet.
How was your interest in other languages born?
I grew up In East New York, Brooklyn, with friends who all escaped from Nazi-occupied Europe. They all spoke different languages—German, Polish, Russian. I was very curious what they were saying to their parents and siblings.
You have published poets in 70 different languages up to date. Is this a passion or a challenge?
It's definitely both a passion and a challenge.
What book do you feel connected to the most?
Dylan Thomas’s Collected Poems.
What do the poets have in common?
Like Gabriel Preil, a desire To Be Recorded (the title of his book I published).
Poetry seems to be forgotten in today’s society. Is this true?
No, as it’s just taken on new forms—mostly in a variety of song.
A lot of poets find it hard to publish their books. What is your opinion as an editor about this?
The market for poetry is quite limited. Poets should be content with print on demand. If their aim is making a living at it, they’re in the wrong profession. Most poets make a living as teachers and from high paid readings at colleges. The age when Alexander Pope was paid the equivalent of $25,000 for a single heroic couplet is long gone.
Do you think poetry is a powerful means to unite people and promote peace in the world?
I think poetry can unite or divide people for peace or war. It depends on the aim of the poet and the power of his product. Personally, I think a poet should avoid being a propagandist. If he has something to day, it should just result in an audience being moved emotionally or to sing or have his mind illuminated.
IRMA KURTI is an Albanian poet, writer, lyricist, journalist, and translator and has been writing since she was a child. She is a naturalized Italian and lives in Bergamo, Italy. All her books are dedicated to the memory of her beloved parents, Hasan Kurti and Sherife Mezini, who have supported and encouraged every step of her literary path. Kurti has also won numerous literary prizes and awards in Italy and Italian Switzerland. She was awarded the Universum Donna International Prize IX Edition 2013 for Literature and received a lifetime nomination as an Ambassador of Peace by the University of Peace, Italian Switzerland. In 2020, she became the honorary president of WikiPoesia, the encyclopedia of poetry. In 2021, she was awarded the title of Liria (Freedom) by the Italian-Albanian community in Italy. In 2022, she was also nominated as the Albanian ambassador to the International Academic Award of Contemporary Literature Seneca of the Academy of Philosophical Arts and Sciences, Bari. She also won the prestigious 2023 Naji Naaman's literary prize for complete work. Irma Kurti has published 29 books in Albanian, 24 in Italian, 15 in English, and two in French. She has written approximately 150 lyrics for adults and children. She has also translated 20 books by different authors, and all of her own books into Italian and English. Her books have been translated and published in 16 countries.
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