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 23 February 2014
A World-class City of Distinction Dying by Slow 'Self-Suffocation'! Give me Liberty or Death!
A World-class City of Distinction
Dying by Slow 'Self-Suffocation'!
-- by Frank C Yue
-- A Classic Tragedy, could it be
Or a Melodrama? We shall see...
Give me Liberty or Death!
"Death! Who's talking about death?
Patience, bear with me with all that.
'Death' is a slow process.
'2047' is not yet here;
You still have 33 years."
"For now, clear the deck,
Just put the noose 'round the neck.
As yet, I don't want you dead.
'You'll be fine!' -- just play mute and deaf!
Think of the 'all-soothing' Money,
Plus the 'all-happy' Harmony."
Amid another crimson Storm,
Be not afraid, be brave and strong!
Pulling the noose too tight --
Do what good to you, it might?
Ev'ryone needs space-freedom to breathe,
O Let the vibrant City live!
When 'self-purging' and 'o'er-corrections'
Were carried to the extreme,
Gone will be the cream of the cream
With balancing observations.
O Send in all the clowns;
On themselves they should frown.
"Wasn't it God's doing I fell away?
Was it God who set me astray?"
He's no need of wicked man, too.
But, His will it's loyalty to do.
He sets before you water and fire--
Whiche'er you choose stretch out your hand.**
This, the City of Milk and Honey --
Producing golden eggs a-plenty,
Where people can walk and talk free --
Between Two Worlds it is the link;
Let it shine and keep it shining!
**Note:
From the Bible: Sirach 15: 11-16.
The sinner is fully responsible for his/her conduct because God, who sees all things, is not the author of wickedness: He gives to every man/woman the liberty to choose between good and evil. 'Water' represents salvation and life, 'fire', damnation and death.
from the net:
< ... 新聞(和言論)自由對開放社會的重要性,再說便嫌囉嗦了;而香港在這方面的自由度,自從「二十三條立法不成」後急轉直下,那是不爭之實,這從香港在無國界記者組織評定的新聞自由指數,由二○○二年的在世界排名第十八位下降至去年(2013)的第六十一位可見。... >
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