《送 別 》 關漢卿
自送别,心難舍,
一點相思幾時绝。
憑䦨袖拂揚花雪:
溪又斜,
山又遮,
人去也。
"FAREWELL"
-- by Guan Hanxing (Yuan Dynasty)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
Ever since we parted,
For you my heart still aches.
The spark of our mutual yearning
Will it ever fade?
Flicking my sleeves by the railing,
Like snow the petals a-falling.
The brook is winding,
The hills are hiding,
And then you are gone.
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".
Sunday, 20 December 2015
Friday, 11 December 2015
J: Slowly walking along the Flanders Fields
"THE WALK OF A VETERAN"
-- J (a 13-year old Grade 8 student)
Slowly walking along the Flanders Fields,
I spied a woman kneeling and weeping.
Dimly I remember the battlefield,
I remember over the trench leaping ...
I think back to the battle I dreaded.
Then, I wonder why this woman is here --
She may be here to remember the dead,
Or to pray for her son, her lovely dear.
I go and ask her, "For what are you here?"
"I pray for my son," she replies to me.
"He died in the war and is buried here."
"I am sorry," I said to her softly.
So, on this day of remembrance, we must
Be remembering those who fought for us!
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
If the day dawns without me 若然有一天沒有我 親愛的
"IF THE DAY DAWNS WITHOUT ME, MY LOVE"
-- by Frank C Yue
If the day dawns without me, My Love,
You know we are still deeply in love.
Though you can't see me, feel m'emotions,
We're just in different dimensions.
No need to look for me far and near,
In spirit with you, I'm still here.
I don't want to see your teary eyes,
Get used to my "absence", by and by.
No need, M'Dear, to cry me a river,
Here for you, I stand on guard fore'er.
You know how much I do love you,
Though I never said so enough too!
If the day dawns without me, My Love,
Just carry on with your daily stuff;
As we go forth, though not together,
In time we'll again see each other.
When you think of me, I think of you,
I am here with you: believe this too.
I'm glad we've done our basic duties,
The children and grand kids are beauties.
Where'er we may be, we're connected --
Live grateful, healthy, free, contented.
Be be calm, be peaceful, be worry-free,
For your sake and your loved ones, be happy!
"若然有一天沒有我, 親愛的" 羡魚
若然有一天沒有我, 親愛的,
您知道您我仍舊深愛對方;
雖然您看不到我, 無從受氣,
我們是存在不同空間而已
無需到處尋找我,
在靈性上我依然和您在一起
我不想看到您淚如泉涌,
時間會助您接受我的別離
無需為我哭個不停,
我時刻與您同在, 守護著您
您知道我真是多麽的愛您,
祗是我總是對您說得不夠多
若然有一天沒有我, 親愛的,
繼續做您日常的事吧;
在人生旅途上, 雖然我先走了,
將來我倆定會重聚
當您想起我時, 我也想念您,
要有信念我是時常伴著您
我為盡了我們基本職責而高興,
兒孫已成長, 咱們的希望可以延續下去
無論何處, 您我心有靈犀:
活得感恩, 健康, 自由, 滿足吧!
祗要內心懷抱虛靜, 平安, 無憂,
為了您自己, 也為您的擎愛, 欣悅地活下去!
-- by Frank C Yue
If the day dawns without me, My Love,
You know we are still deeply in love.
Though you can't see me, feel m'emotions,
We're just in different dimensions.
No need to look for me far and near,
In spirit with you, I'm still here.
I don't want to see your teary eyes,
Get used to my "absence", by and by.
No need, M'Dear, to cry me a river,
Here for you, I stand on guard fore'er.
You know how much I do love you,
Though I never said so enough too!
If the day dawns without me, My Love,
Just carry on with your daily stuff;
As we go forth, though not together,
In time we'll again see each other.
When you think of me, I think of you,
I am here with you: believe this too.
I'm glad we've done our basic duties,
The children and grand kids are beauties.
Where'er we may be, we're connected --
Live grateful, healthy, free, contented.
Be be calm, be peaceful, be worry-free,
For your sake and your loved ones, be happy!
"若然有一天沒有我, 親愛的" 羡魚
若然有一天沒有我, 親愛的,
您知道您我仍舊深愛對方;
雖然您看不到我, 無從受氣,
我們是存在不同空間而已
無需到處尋找我,
在靈性上我依然和您在一起
我不想看到您淚如泉涌,
時間會助您接受我的別離
無需為我哭個不停,
我時刻與您同在, 守護著您
您知道我真是多麽的愛您,
祗是我總是對您說得不夠多
若然有一天沒有我, 親愛的,
繼續做您日常的事吧;
在人生旅途上, 雖然我先走了,
將來我倆定會重聚
當您想起我時, 我也想念您,
要有信念我是時常伴著您
我為盡了我們基本職責而高興,
兒孫已成長, 咱們的希望可以延續下去
無論何處, 您我心有靈犀:
活得感恩, 健康, 自由, 滿足吧!
祗要內心懷抱虛靜, 平安, 無憂,
為了您自己, 也為您的擎愛, 欣悅地活下去!
老年人 有朝告別知心愛 另個時空待 If the day dawns without me
[羡魚兄,老年人又躍馬橫刀,前來助威:]
謝謝 老年人 詞譯佳作! 鐵馬金刀, 氣呑萬里如虎! 嘻嘻!
《虞美人~ 若然沒有我》老年人
有朝告別知心愛,另個時空待。
願卿忍淚對分離,護汝痴魂無處不相隨。
今生暫去將來聚,你我相思緒。
兒孫延續已無憂,幸福平安喜樂亦無求。
謝謝 老年人 詞譯佳作! 鐵馬金刀, 氣呑萬里如虎! 嘻嘻!
IF THE DAY DAWNS WITHOUT ME, MY LOVE"
-- by Frank C Yue
If the day dawns without me, My Love,
You know we are still deeply in love.
Though you can't see me, feel m'emotions,
We're just in different dimensions.
No need to look for me far and near,
In spirit with you, I'm still here.
I don't want to see your teary eyes,
Get used to my "absence", by and by.
No need, M'Dear, to cry me a river,
Here for you, I stand on guard for ever.
You know how much I do love you,
Though I never said so enough too!
If the day dawns without me, My Love,
Just carry on with your daily stuff;
As we go forth, though not together,
In time we'll again see each other.
When you think of me, I think of you,
I am here with you: believe this too.
I'm glad we've done our basic duties,
The children and grand kids are beauties.
Where'er we may be, we're connected --
Live grateful, healthy, free, contented.
Be calm, be peaceful, be worry-free,
For your sake and your loved ones, be happy!
《虞美人~ 若然沒有我》老年人
有朝告別知心愛,另個時空待。
願卿忍淚對分離,護汝痴魂無處不相隨。
今生暫去將來聚,你我相思緒。
兒孫延續已無憂,幸福平安喜樂亦無求。
Tuesday, 1 December 2015
老年人 倩影如風隨水去 落花枝盡已黃昏 Gone with the wind and stream
《倩影》一老年人
倩影如風隨水去,
落花枝盡已黃昏;
長空望斷南飛雁,
海角無聲慰寂魂。
"YOUR SHADOW FAIR"
-- by One Old Man
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
Gone with the wind and stream is your shadow fair,
Flow'rs fall and by sunset the branch is bare.
South-flying geese have long pass'd in the sky;
Soundless waves console the lonely soul o'mine.
倩影如風隨水去,
落花枝盡已黃昏;
長空望斷南飛雁,
海角無聲慰寂魂。
"YOUR SHADOW FAIR"
-- by One Old Man
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
Gone with the wind and stream is your shadow fair,
Flow'rs fall and by sunset the branch is bare.
South-flying geese have long pass'd in the sky;
Soundless waves console the lonely soul o'mine.
Monday, 30 November 2015
老年人 若然無我始明天 晨旭瑩瑩汝眼漣 When tomorrow starts without me
[羡魚兄好!
老年人單刀匹馬助興來了:]
謝謝 草棚壇主 老年人 快刀相助!
"單刀匹馬"? 武藝高強, 熟讀兵書, 豈止是 虎將一名, 簡直是 精騎三千! 哈哈!
若然無我始明天, 晨旭瑩瑩汝眼漣。
惟願哀卿將節淚, 且懷蜜語未於言。
濃情款款相知愛, 厚念時時互惦纏。
莫作分離人遠隔, 痴魂正寄汝心田。
老年人單刀匹馬助興來了:]
謝謝 草棚壇主 老年人 快刀相助!
"單刀匹馬"? 武藝高強, 熟讀兵書, 豈止是 虎將一名, 簡直是 精騎三千! 哈哈!
"WHEN TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME"
-- Author Unknown
When tomorrow starts without me,
And I am not here to see,
If the Sun should rise and see your eyes,
Filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry,
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many
Things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too.
When tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here in your heart.
《七律 ~ 當明天沒有我》老年人若然無我始明天, 晨旭瑩瑩汝眼漣。
惟願哀卿將節淚, 且懷蜜語未於言。
濃情款款相知愛, 厚念時時互惦纏。
莫作分離人遠隔, 痴魂正寄汝心田。
When tomorrow starts without me 當沒有我的明天開始時
"WHEN TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME"
-- Author Unknown
When tomorrow starts without me,
And I am not here to see,
If the Sun should rise and see your eyes,
Filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry,
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many
Things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too.
When tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here in your heart.
"當沒有我的明天開始時"
作者:佚名
譯者:羨魚
當沒有我的明天開始時,
我不會在這裡看到
旭日初升,和您亮晶的眼睛,
為我而涙水縱橫。
我熱切希望您不要哭,
像您今天哭得變成淚人,
當想及我們很多
尚未有時間説的話。
我知道您是多麽的深愛我,
正如我多麽的深愛您;
每次您想著我的時候,
我知道您會同樣的懷念我。
當沒有我的明天開始時,
不要以為我們天人相隔,
因為每次您想念我的時候,
我就正在您心中。
Friday, 27 November 2015
老年人 兩旁大路往仙庭 晚飯五時玩具活生靈 FOREIGN LANDS
多謝 老年人 譜出佳作!
《虞美人~ 奇異之境》老年人
.
櫻桃樹上凝眸遠, 悅見奇園變。
流川似鏡映藍天, 塵道盤旋群眾履相連。
.
若能更上層梢望, 河海遊船暢。
兩旁大路往仙庭, 晚飯五時玩具活生靈。
"FOREIGN LANDS"
-- ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (1850-1894)
Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me?
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
I saw the next-door garden lie,
Adorned with flowers before my eyes,
And many pleasant places more
That I had never seen before.
I saw the dimpling river pass
And be the sky's blue looking-glass;
The dusty roads go up and down
With people tramping into town.
If I could find a higher tree
Farther and farther I should see
To where the grown-up river slips
Into the sea among the ships.
To where the roads on either hand
Lead onward into fairy land,
Where all the children dine at five,
And all the playthings come alive.
.
櫻桃樹上凝眸遠, 悅見奇園變。
流川似鏡映藍天, 塵道盤旋群眾履相連。
.
若能更上層梢望, 河海遊船暢。
兩旁大路往仙庭, 晚飯五時玩具活生靈。
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
誰會爬上櫻桃樹,除了細小的我呢? Up into the cherry tree
"FOREIGN LANDS"
-- ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (1850-1894)
Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me?
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
I saw the next-door garden lie,
Adorned with flowers before my eyes,
And many pleasant places more
That I had never seen before.
I saw the dimpling river pass
"奇妙之異地"
除了細小的我呢?
我用雙手抱著樹幹,
望向遠方異地。
我看到園隣居的花,
花團錦簇,
還有更多怡悅的地方,
都是我從未見過的。
我看到帯有梨窩的小河流過,
她是天空蔚藍色的照身鏡,
滿佈塵埃的道路縱橫,
領著民眾踏步進入城鎮。
祗要在另一個顆高樹上更上層樓,
我就能找到千哩眼,
看看大川如何流入海洋,
在船隻間翻滾暢游。
又將會看到兩旁的大路,
導人直通神奇仙境;
孩童在那裡下午五時吃晚飯,
玩偶玩具都變成活生生的東西!
-- ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (1850-1894)
Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me?
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
I saw the next-door garden lie,
Adorned with flowers before my eyes,
And many pleasant places more
That I had never seen before.
I saw the dimpling river pass
And be the sky's blue looking-glass;
The dusty roads go up and down
With people tramping into town.
If I could find a higher tree
Farther and farther I should see
To where the grown-up river slips
Into the sea among the ships.
To where the roads on either hand
Lead onward into fairy land,
Where all the children dine at five,
And all the playthings come alive.
作者: 羅拔 路易斯 史蒂芬遜 (1850-1894)
譯者:羨魚
誰會爬上櫻桃樹,除了細小的我呢?
我用雙手抱著樹幹,
望向遠方異地。
我看到園隣居的花,
花團錦簇,
還有更多怡悅的地方,
都是我從未見過的。
我看到帯有梨窩的小河流過,
她是天空蔚藍色的照身鏡,
滿佈塵埃的道路縱橫,
領著民眾踏步進入城鎮。
祗要在另一個顆高樹上更上層樓,
我就能找到千哩眼,
看看大川如何流入海洋,
在船隻間翻滾暢游。
又將會看到兩旁的大路,
導人直通神奇仙境;
孩童在那裡下午五時吃晚飯,
玩偶玩具都變成活生生的東西!
Saturday, 21 November 2015
海盜的故事 R L Stevenson's PIRATE STORY
"PIRATE STORY"
-- ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (1850-1894)
Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing,
Three of us aboard in the basket on the lea.
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,
And waves are on the meadows like the waves there at sea.
Where shall we adventure, today that we're afloat,
Wary of the weather and steering by a star?
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,
To Providence, or Babylon, or off to Malabar?
Hi! but here's a squadron a-rowing on to sea --
Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!
Quick and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be,
The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,
And waves are on the meadows like the waves there at sea.
Where shall we adventure, today that we're afloat,
Wary of the weather and steering by a star?
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,
To Providence, or Babylon, or off to Malabar?
Hi! but here's a squadron a-rowing on to sea --
Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!
Quick and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be,
The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.
作者:羅拔 路易斯 史蒂芬遜 (1850-1894)
譯者:羨魚
我們三人在草原上飄蘯, 就在鞦靬旁,
我們三人坐在草地上的大藤籃,
風正在吹, 春天和風在吹著;
草原上波瀾翻騰, 正如海上的浪濤。
今天乘風破浪, 我們應到那裡冒險呢?
風雲瞬息幻變, 我們用北極星導航嗎?
我們將會駛船去非洲,
法國的北岸, 還是巴比倫, 或者馬拉巴呢?
嗨! 可是一中隊官兵正在搖船出海 --
草原上的牛群咆哮地衝將過來!
快點! 譲我們逃離這裏! 它們真是瘋了!
那邊的側門就是港口, 花園是岸邊!
Thursday, 19 November 2015
I know a funny little man 我認識一個有趣的小人
"MISTER NOBODY"
-- ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (1850-1894)
I know a funny little man,
As quiet as a mouse,
Who does the mischief that is done
In everyone's house!
There's no one ever sees his face,
And yet we all agree
That every plate that we break was cracked
By Mister Nobody.
'Tis he who always tears our books,
Who leaves the door ajar,
He pulls the buttons from our shirts,
And scatters pins afar.
That squeaking door will always squeak
For, prithee don't you see,
We leave the oiling to be done
By Mister Nobody.
He puts damp wood upon the fire,
That kettles cannot boil;
His are the feet that bring in mud,
And all the carpets soil.
The paper are always mislaid,
Who had them last but he?
There's no one tosses them about
By Mister Nobody.
The finger marks on the door
By none of us are made;
we never leave the blinds unclosed
To let the curtains fade;
The inks we never spill, the boots
That lying round you see
Are not our boots -- they all belong
To Mister Nobody.
"沒有人先生"
作者:羅拔 路易斯 史蒂芬遜 (1850-1894)
譯者:羨魚
我認識一個有趣的小人,
像老鼠一樣的沉靜。
在每個人家裡的悪作劇,
是誰的傑作呢?
從沒有人看到他的面貌,
可是,各人異口同聲地說:
我們打破了的每一塊碟子,
都是他的作為!
是他時常撕破了書頁,
譲大門敝開著,
把鈕扣從襯衣上扯掉,
把大頭針撤到地上,無遠不屆。
吱吱聲叫的門軸會繼續吱吱聲叫,
噢,因為 ...
你不知道嗎? ...
我們讓沒有人先生去塗油!
他把濕柴放在火爐裡,
因此,水煲內的水燒不開了;
他雙腳把泥污帶進屋裡,
把地氈都弄得骯髒不堪!
書信時常都不知所蹤,
他是最後的經手人!
無人會把文件隨手亂扔,
除了沒有人先生!
門上的黑指模
絕不是我們按上去的;
我們從不讓百葉簾打開,
而使布簾被曬到脫色;
我們從不打瀉墨水,那對
隨處亂放的靴子,
都不是我們的,它們全都是
沒有人先生的!
-- ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (1850-1894)
I know a funny little man,
As quiet as a mouse,
Who does the mischief that is done
In everyone's house!
There's no one ever sees his face,
And yet we all agree
That every plate that we break was cracked
By Mister Nobody.
'Tis he who always tears our books,
Who leaves the door ajar,
He pulls the buttons from our shirts,
And scatters pins afar.
That squeaking door will always squeak
For, prithee don't you see,
We leave the oiling to be done
By Mister Nobody.
He puts damp wood upon the fire,
That kettles cannot boil;
His are the feet that bring in mud,
And all the carpets soil.
The paper are always mislaid,
Who had them last but he?
There's no one tosses them about
By Mister Nobody.
The finger marks on the door
By none of us are made;
we never leave the blinds unclosed
To let the curtains fade;
The inks we never spill, the boots
That lying round you see
Are not our boots -- they all belong
To Mister Nobody.
"沒有人先生"
作者:羅拔 路易斯 史蒂芬遜 (1850-1894)
譯者:羨魚
我認識一個有趣的小人,
像老鼠一樣的沉靜。
在每個人家裡的悪作劇,
是誰的傑作呢?
從沒有人看到他的面貌,
可是,各人異口同聲地說:
我們打破了的每一塊碟子,
都是他的作為!
是他時常撕破了書頁,
譲大門敝開著,
把鈕扣從襯衣上扯掉,
把大頭針撤到地上,無遠不屆。
吱吱聲叫的門軸會繼續吱吱聲叫,
噢,因為 ...
你不知道嗎? ...
我們讓沒有人先生去塗油!
他把濕柴放在火爐裡,
因此,水煲內的水燒不開了;
他雙腳把泥污帶進屋裡,
把地氈都弄得骯髒不堪!
書信時常都不知所蹤,
他是最後的經手人!
無人會把文件隨手亂扔,
除了沒有人先生!
門上的黑指模
絕不是我們按上去的;
我們從不讓百葉簾打開,
而使布簾被曬到脫色;
我們從不打瀉墨水,那對
隨處亂放的靴子,
都不是我們的,它們全都是
沒有人先生的!