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 June 2016
夜月星河 回文詞 林野綠叢叢 叢叢綠野林 Woods are all green in the country-side
林野綠叢叢,日暖尋芳薄霧籠。
絲柳翠堤臨雨細,橋東,岸遠禽飛逐淡風。
深怨又飄紅,寂寂沉沉月掛空。
幽徑草花侵竹影,朦朦,小院音鶯夜碧穹。
(回讀成另一首詞)
穹碧夜鶯音,院小朦朦影竹侵。
花草徑幽空掛月,沉沉,寂寂紅飄又怨深。
風淡逐飛禽,遠岸東橋細雨臨。
堤翠柳絲籠霧薄,芳尋,暖日叢叢綠野林。
TUNE: "The Southern Village"
TITLE: "Spring Sentiments"
A Palindrome Ci
-- by Night Moon Star River
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
Woods are all green in the country-side;
In the warm Sun, searching for scenes fine,
I ramble through the veil misting.
Willow threads, embankment aquamarine
Are washed clean when it's drizzling.
At the Bridge East,
O'er yonder shore are seen
Flying fowls chasing the light breeze.
With deep lament,
Flowers a-falling again.
Silently, with no one else to face,
The Moon hangs in empty space.
Inch by inch, the path serene --
Encroaching by bamboo shadows has been.
Hazily, in the courtyard small,
'Neath blue Doom, oriole serenades all.
(Reading the original ci from the last character backwards)
Tonight, beneath the blue Sky,
Oriole songs lift my heart high;
The small courtyard misting,
Bamboo shadows are invading.
Above the serene path flowery,
Hangs the full Moon silvery.
Quietly and noiseless,
Red petals fall with lament no less.
The soft breeze a-chasing
Away the birds winging;
The distant shore and East Bridge in sight --
They are shrouded by the rains light.
The embankment and willow threads green
Veiled by light mist are faintly seen.
Among green bush and woods in the Sun
I am searching for my Loved One.
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