How to translate “彎月明明”? How can '彎月' be '明明'?

How to translate “彎月明明” as in '彎月明

明 在宇邊' ? 

There are obviously -- at least -- two levels of interpretation and translation, depending on your target audience!

At the higher level, `明明`  is a pun that`s usually quite impossible to translate from C to E, or vice versa! 

(aha, i`ll attempt doing  the almost impossible task below, as a self-appointed ``x-cultural bridge-builder and messenger poet-translator``.)

But bear in mind first:

(A) Are the target audience ``elementary and-or high schools boys and girls``? Or

(B) ``undergrads or post-grad students, or even lecturers and professors``?  

(C) Anyone who thinks outside of the box (of traditional Chinese shi ci etc.) with soaring imaginations...

For the latter two groups, they must be open-minded with a cup half-empty, too.

The 'culprit' poem in question under scrutiny:

《七絕 – 黃昏》一老年人

      又是黃昏又一天，

      幾回欄倚夕陽前，

      歸鴉點點空飛盡，

      彎月明明在宇邊。

28-Character Quatrain: "Dusk"

-- by 一老年人 'A Man of Advanced Years'

-- Translated by Frank C Yue

Version 1:

With another day done, Dusk’s here again –

Myriad times I lean on the railing in vain.

(**1) Specks of homeward-bound crows now out of                                                                                  sight,

(**1) At Sky edge the crescent Moon's quite bright.   

Version 2:

With another day done, Dusk’s here again – 

Myriad times I lean on the railing in vain.

(**2)    Homeward-bound crow specks had flown already,

(**2)    At Sky’s edge the crescent Moon shines clearly.   

Version 3:

With another day done, Dusk’s here again –

Myriad times I lean on the railing in vain.

(**3)   Homeward-bound crow specks had flown already,

(**3)   At Sky’s edge crescent Moon shines obviously.   

and  ‘obviously’ here is clearly a pun for ‘明明’!

Notes by the Translator, speaking metaphorically:

**Level 1 version –

for the beginner Taiji practitioner who believes she is learning a useful low-loading form of useful ‘exercise’! (o this is seriously under-rating this sparkling, unique gem of Chinese civilisation! but, everyone has to start from somewhere, somehow...)

**Levels 2 & 3 version –

for the v experienced (over 5-year) and persistent Taiji practitioner with powerful qi in her hands, doing daily meditative qigong – truly a beautiful, effortless spiritual poetry-in-motion! This guy most likely is able to send out positive ‘vital life-energy’ to help those in need.

(Believe it or not: ) One can simply feel, depending on one’s level of ‘achievement’ or advancement in the practice of projection qigong, nature of character and state of mind etc., the serenity energy and joy emitted and resonating in one’s palms or body. Am talking about the ‘aura’ of your Taiji sifu assuming he is a true master! and you are so fortunate!

the following copied from another older posting as background info:

' ...

江湖老人 -

(re line 4 of original Chinese poem: '彎月明明在宇邊':)

老年人君，一般的發亮不能稱作 “明明”。古文或古詩詞有用 “明明”來形容彎月嗎？如有，請舉例！

一老年人 -

江湖老人兄，早安！神交已久，多謝寶貴意見。

Alekloba - 

一老年人君，

“我明明看見你站在那邊”  中的 “明明” 當然是作 “顯然”解，但相信閣下的詩句“明明” 作光亮解。羡魚君的英譯也將  “明明” 譯成 “so bright” 。

At the Sky’s edge the crescent Moon so bright.

http://forum.hkej.com/node/111501 '

o yes, i ... '羡魚君的英譯也將  “明明” 譯成 “so bright” -- but do let me explain myself here: that’s only for the general readers under Level 1** definition above! (and readership of my work is not so great here!) and now i do wish to change this to  “quite bright”. 

for Levels 2é3** readers or v experienced and accomplished taiji si-hing or si-tse able to emit qi externally (like yours truly) for healing purposes -- o, so far in the hkej forum i have not met anyone who claims she or he can do that! -- that is an entirely different story...

< ... thank you <River Lake Old Man>,

"老朽也認同 Alekloba 所說，“彎月明明” 是說得不通的..."

i agree urs & Alekloba's comments are not invalid in the normal circumstances.

but this particular poem was 'extracted' from Golden Bow's daily blog in which there was a poetic sparring -- through alternate & fast exchange o poems -- between No Desire Swordsman with his invisible 'sword-in-the-heart' and the Old Man o Advanced Years, using the very visible “彎月明明” -- the shiny curved broadsword in the sky -- as his weapon o choice!

hence, this somewhat 'odd use of the terms' “彎月明明” in both c and e. we/they are just being playful!>

一老年人 又是黃昏又一天 幾回欄倚夕陽前 With another day done, Dusk’s here again

《七絕 – 黃昏》一老年人 

    

     又是黃昏又一天，

     幾回欄倚夕陽前，

   

     歸鴉點點空飛盡，

  

     彎月明明在宇邊。

28-Character Quatrain: "Dusk"

-- by 一老年人 'A Man of Advanced Years'

-- Translated by Frank C Yue

With another day done, Dusk’s here again –

Myriad times I lean on the railing in vain.

Specks of homeward-bound 

                     

                            crows now out of sight,

At the Sky’s edge the crescent 

     

                                     Moon quite bright.

    

老人‧魚‧ 海 :《愛琴揚帆》 The Old Man & The (Aegean) Sea

111. 《七絕‧愛琴揚帆》一老年人

          
           日暮餘暉彩染天，

           閑遊帆蕩愛琴前；

           醉人夕景紅如酒，

           盡享逍遙樂似仙。

Qī Jué ‧ Ai Qín Yáng Fān:

"28-Character (7-character x 4

  lines) Quatrain":

'Sailing on the Aegean Sea'

-- by 一老年人 'A Man of Advanced Years'

-- Translated by Frank C Yue (Original version)

The last rays of the Sun setting

Red and gold the skies are painting;

Leisurely, I catch the strong breeze

By sailing across the Aegean Sea.

Free and to the brim, m'self enjoying --

The scene at sunset so enchanting,

One would be drunk as if by red wine.

I'm happy like a'immortal, with Thine!

<一老年人 

羡魚兄，欣賞英譯佳作！

詩中 “愛琴” 指愛琴海。

多謝欣賞及翻譯拙作！>

<無求劍客:

 

羡魚兄，老年人兄， 早安。

《七絕‧愛琴揚帆》寫景於在下一幅黄昏照片，

地點是土耳其的愛琴海（Aegean Sea) .>  

Aha! thank you, Old Man,
for telling d abs3ntee 'e-student' the original meaning o ur poem!
there the new boat goes (or sails)!

v nice pic, No Desire Swordsman, thx! 

夜月星河 桃花滿樹入眸紅 煙雨江南十里濛 Peach flow'rs so adorn'd the whole tree

《江南春曉》夜月星河

      桃花滿樹入眸紅，
      煙雨江南十里濛；
      殘月曉風楊柳岸，
      輕舟一葉蕩湖中。

Qī Jué ‧ Jiāngnán Chūn Xiǎo:
28-Character Quatrain: 
"Jiāngnán Dawn in Spring"
-- by 夜月星河  'Night Moon Starry River'
-- Translated by Frank C Yue

Peach flow'rs so adorn'd the whole tree,
Your bright eyes all pink before me!
O South of the River smoke and rain,
One could try to see for miles -- in vain.

Dawn breeze: the Moon waning is seen
Above the banks with willows green.
A tiny boat -- just like a leave --
At the lake centre drifts and weaves.

一老年人 靜碧空懸冷月明 玉枝疏影耀冰晶 In the still, clear blue hanging,

114.《七絕‧雪月情》一老年人

      靜碧空懸冷月明，

      玉枝疏影耀冰晶；

      瓊瑤遍野嚴冬色，

      雪月交輝萬里情。

無求劍客 - 2014年03月30日

摄于英國利物浦 Sefton Park   Thx! No Desire Swordsman!

 

Qī Jué ‧ Xuě Yuè Qíng:

"28-Character (7-character x 4 lines) Quatrain":
'The Snow, the Moon & M’Feelings'
-- by 一老年人 'A Man of Advanced Years'
-- Translated by Frank C Yue

In the still, clear blue hanging,

The cold Moon bright

On jade branches, few shadows, shining;

It is all crystal ice in sight.

The countryside cover’d in deep snows,

Ev'rything ev'rywhere in white shows.

Reflected on snow the soft moon-light

To you far’way, let m’feelings take flight. 

一老年人日暮餘暉彩染天，閑遊帆蕩愛琴前 In late evening the Sun's rays last

111.《七絕‧愛琴揚帆》

    日暮餘暉彩染天，

    閑遊帆蕩愛琴前；

    醉人夕景紅如酒，

    盡享逍遙樂似仙。

Qī Jué ‧ Ai Qín Yáng Fān:
"28-Character (7-character x 4 lines) Quatrain":
'My Love's Qin & My Full Sail'
-- by 一老年人 'A Man of Advanced Years'
-- Translated by Frank C Yue  
    (Interpretative version,does not reflect 
       the poet's original sentiments)

In late evening the Sun's rays last

Taint the sky red, gold and hues more;

Leisurely, I sail the boat past

You, M'Love, playing your qin on the shore.

Free and to the brim, m'self enjoying --

The scene at sunset so enchanting,

One would be drunk as if by red wine.

I'm happy like a'immortal, with Thine!

<一老年人:
 

羡魚兄，欣賞英譯佳作！

詩中 “愛琴” 指愛琴海。

多謝欣賞及翻譯拙作！>

<無求劍客:

羡魚兄，老年人兄， 早安。

《七絕‧愛琴揚帆》寫景於在下一幅黄昏照片，

地點是土耳其的愛琴海（Aegeon Sea) .>

  

(For another true representation of the poet's intended sentiments, see posting dd. mar. 25.)