Recently, I have had in-depth discussions on translating Chinese poems with several friends. Beyond delivering the meaning of the original works, we talked about the necessity of staying close to the wording and the structure.
Word-for-word translations are essential for art song interpretations. When composers set a poem to music, the connection between words and musical expressions is direct and instantaneous. Singers and pianists must be sensitive to such intimacy.
In my translations of Chinese poems, whenever possible, I attempted to stay close to the original wording and word-placements. At times, this approach might result in less poetic-sounding verses. It is less likely to show the rhyme schemes. However, it will help the interpreters to match the emotional evolvements in the pieces.
Personally, I also believe that it is extremely important to search for the right words that not only deliver the meaning of the texts but also reflect the characters of the poems. Folk-oriented verses should sound natural and fluid; ornate poems should be rich and gorgeous.
There is never a perfect translation of any text, regardless of the forms, the contents, and the languages. I am, amongst many, making my best efforts to be the conduit of ideas and expressions.