A brief collection of my attempted English renditions of selected Chinese poems, both contemporary and classical. (Each original classical Chinese poem may be presented in both the traditional and simplified forms, followed by the English translation.) Comments and suggested amendments welcome. (But I may not have the time to respond to every comment.) I am a follower of Andrew W F Wong's excellent blog "Classical Chinese Poems in English".
Thursday, 16 January 2014
夜月星河 楓林霜染芳郊路，便漫步村莊去 The maple woods and the serene country road
《青玉案 . 秋郊行》夜月星河 (步方回韻)
楓林霜染芳郊路，便漫步村莊去。
好景良辰閒裏度，
碧溪紅葉，
朱門繡戶，
享盡清幽處。
長天過雁浮雲暮，秋色空吟寄情句。
借問秋光餘幾許？
遠山流水，
蘆花飛絮，
點點飄零雨。
TUNE: Qīng Yù An: "Green Jade Desk"
TITLE: Autumn Country Walk
-- by 夜月星河 "Night Moon Starry River"
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
The maple woods and the serene country
road are frost-sprinkled;
Leisurely, towards the village I go.
I savour the beautiful scenes,
At such fine hour, in peace and at ease.
The green brook and red leaves (in places),
Crimson doors, window-screens with laces.
All these views of great tranquility
I'm enjoying (with humility).
The drifting clouds -- at dusk in the skies long --
A V-formation o' wild geese flies along.
To fleeing Autumn I sing odes and
songs in vain;
Tell me -- How much colourful hues
shall remain?
Distant hills,
Flowing rills,
The reed flowers white
Send up catkins light --
Down come drops of wind-blown rain.
《青玉案 . 秋郊行》夜月星河 (步方回韻)
ReplyDeleteTUNE: Qīng Yù An: "Green Jade Desk"
TITLE: Autumn Country Walk
-- by 夜月星河 "Night Moon Starry River"
楓林霜染芳郊路，便漫步村莊去。
好景良辰閒裏度，
碧溪紅葉，
朱門繡戶，
享盡清幽處。
Maple woods, quiet country road widely coated with frost,
Towards the village I wander without a course.
Beautiful scene, good hours, I enjoy leisurely with ease,
Clear stream, rouge leaves,
Crimson doors, windows with embroidery lace,
It is such a fresh and quiet place!
長天過雁浮雲暮，秋色空吟寄情句。
借問秋光餘幾許？
遠山流水，
蘆花飛絮，
點點飄零雨。
High sky, geese fly passing by under the rouge sunset and blue cloud,
In this fleeing Autumn scene, I utter some odd poem verses to no crowd.
Does anybody know how long Autumn will last?
Distant hills, stream running fast,
Reed flowers fly high and cannot refrain,
Down come drops and drops of homeless rain!
(translated by Alan Ma, Jan. 18, 2014.)
email: omega@hkftp.com
2nd try:
ReplyDeleteWhat a scarlet maple wood and quiet country road covered with early frost,
Towards the village I wander without any course.
I watch the beautiful scene and spend some good hours in ease,
Clear stream, red colour leaves,
Crimson doors, windows with embroidery lace,
It is such a fresh and quiet place!
長天過雁浮雲暮，秋色空吟寄情句。
借問秋光餘幾許？ 遠山流水，
蘆花飛絮， 點點飄零雨。
Geese fly passing by against the rough sunset and blue cloud sky,
In this fleeing Autumn scene, I utter some odd poem verses myself in a shy.
Does anybody know how long Autumn will last?
Distant hills, stream running fast,
Reed flowers fly high and cannot restrain,
Down come drops and drops of homeless rain!
(translated by Alan Ma, Jan. 18, 2014.)