Welcome

Preface

I am no poet. I have studied neither Chinese nor English literature. Despite the fact that I've done quite a bit of translations between Chinese and English, I have received no formal training in translation. So, why am I doing this? Quite simply, for fun. It began on the day next preceding the Mid Autumn Festival 2016, whereat I was looking for a greeting message, probably a classical poem, I could send over the phone to my family and friends. I did like the all time favorite of Jing Ye Si by Li Bai, but felt the five-character quatrain from the Tang period to be far too common. Still, after a while I sent it out, but with a twist – in English verse I translated. As expected, I received a mixed response: people who recognized it found it delightful; others thought the poem I composed was rather good – probably out of good manners.

Here's what I think I'll do in order to keep this up. First, I must never look at translations by others before I finish mine. Clearly, no one knows exactly what went on in the minds of the authors when the poems were composed; half of them, with little doubt, were drunk or near wasted at the time. It is really a guessing game. Secondly, the understanding and appreciation of any similes, metaphors or even innuendos used by the author are of paramount importance. And, I shouldn't be afraid to yang the yin. Lastly, my work needs not be perfect. It should, however, reflects what kind of a guesser I am: bold, timid, analytical, reasonable et al. It should also show the level of my rendering capabilities. Since I am doing this for fun I will take my time posting new verses. Be patient, and by all means be critical! (9/20/2016)

Now that I've completed five poems, I wish to add one more thing to the must do list mentioned above. There must be at least one line in each poem I am very fond of, if it weren't there, I'll keep working on it until it is. Here are two examples: from Ti Wu Jiang Ting 題烏江亭, “Whether a comeback is probable a dead warrior never knows.” and from Zi Luo Zhi Yue 自洛之越, “For all I care, fill the cups of fame-seekers with vanity; but fill mine with wine.” By coincidence, both these two lines happen to be the last line. (9/29/2016)

Rudi Butt
Hong Kong
rudibutt@hotmail.com

Poetry and Alcoholism

Xia Chu Yu Hou Xun Yu Xi (Liu Zongyuan) 夏初雨后尋愚溪 (柳宗元)

悠悠雨初霽，獨繞清溪曲。
引杖試荒泉，解帶圍新竹。
沉吟亦何事，寂寞固所欲。
幸此息營營，嘯歌靜炎燠。

"Tracing the Yu Creek after the First Summer Rain"

It's a high time the long rain stops. Here go a walk following the creek by myself. I use my walking cane to test the depth of the spring, and my belt to fence off young bamboo to make way. Mumble as I contemplate, so what, am I not alone? My solitude I cherish. No more living a busy life. Singing out loud to ease the scorching summer heat.

(by me, 10/1/2016)

Zi Luo Zhi Yue (Meng Haoran) 自洛之越 (盂浩然 )

遑遑三十載，書劍兩無成。
山水尋吳越，風塵厭洛京。
扁舟泛湖海，長揖謝公卿。
且樂杯中物，誰論世上名？

"From Luo to Yue: a Transition to Bohemianism"

Try as I might for thirty years, I remain a nobody in the officialdom. Fare thee well, Loyang and your wind and dust I loathed so much for I've found what I longed for - exuberant greenery and freedom. Exploring the lush mountains and waterways once dominated by Wu and Yue soothes me and inspires my interest to trace the history of these former kingdoms. A rowing boat is what it takes to get across a lake. Fawning over court ministers, believe you me, gets you nowhere except to stand back in line. For all I care, fill the cups of fame-seekers with vanity; but fill mine with wine.

(by me, 9/29/2016)

Ti Wu Jiang Ting (Du Mu) 題烏江亭 (杜牧)

勝敗兵家事不期，
包羞忍恥是男兒。
江東子弟多才俊，
卷土重來未可知。

"An Inscription on the Wujiang Pavilion"

Military strategists cannot predict victory or defeat, He who can accept shame and endure humiliation is a true man. Among the sons of the eastern Yangtze region the able and talented abound, Whether they could sweep over the land and stage a return remains unknown.

(by Yue Zhang 2014)

"The Pavilion of River Wu: Pensive Thoughts of a Dead Warrior"

Not always as predicted a battle ends. Endure shame and humiliation can only a real man. Raise a new army. Many a good man from back home will enroll. Whether a comeback is probable a dead warrior never knows.

(by me, 9/27/2016)

Chun Wang (Du Fu) 春望 (杜甫)

國破山河在，城春草木深。
感時花濺淚，恨別鳥驚心。
烽火連三月，家書抵萬金。
白頭搔更短，渾欲不勝簪。

"The View in Spring”"

A kingdom smashed, its hills and rivers still here, Spring in the city, plants and trees grow deep. Moved by the moment, flowers splash with tears, Alarmed at parting, birds startle the heart. War’s beacon fires have gone on three months, Letters from home are worth thousands in gold. Fingers run through white hair until it thins, Cap-pins will almost no longer hold.

(by Stephen Owen, 1996)

"A Scene in Spring"

The state is torn apart, only the mountains and rivers remain. Weeds and trees run rampant in the city this spring. Do the flowers sense the times, that they, like me, should weep? Do the birds feel the emptiness, they seem so fearful? For three months on end the garrison beacons have glimmered at night. A letter from home would be worth a heap of gold to me, An old man waiting, whose remaining white hairs Will soon become too sparse even to hold a hat pin.

(by Paul Harris)

"What to Look for in Spring?"

The kingdom was wracked by war. Still the land stands. Long-abandoned, the walled-city gives refuge to spring grown weeds and wild plants. Sentimental me. Tears were shed over current affairs and splashed on flowers that were drawn and painted. In despair we bid farewell, unknowingly startled the birds off their roosts that were drawn and painted. Fighting has last through a second spring. Communications become sporadic. A letter from home if held ransom would fetch a fortune. From stress my hair went white; some breaks off each time I scratch my head. Soon I have no use for a hairpin.

(by me, 9/23/2016)

A quick note. The flowers and birds written in the poem, I surmise, were those drawn and painted in a bird-and-flower painting 花鳥畫 . This type of painting is typically associated with peace and prosperity.

Xiang Jian Huan (Li Yu) 相見歡 (李煜)

This, essentially, is the lyric written for a song named Xiang Jiang Huan (Happy to See Each Other) 相見歡. The song also had several aliases: Wu Ye Ti (Crows Cawing at Night) 烏夜啼, Qiu Ye Yue (Autumn Night with Moon) 秋夜月, and Shang Xi Lou (Climb the West Tower) 上西樓.

無言獨上西樓，月如鉤。
寂寞梧桐深院鎖清秋。
剪不斷，理還亂，是離愁。
別是一般滋味在心頭。

"A Joyful Rendezvous"

In seclusion I ascend the west tower in silence, a hook of a new moon hangs above. On guarded grounds lonesome phoenix trees apprehend the works of a brisk fall. Sever not, reasons fail, it is parting sorrow but sweet it is not. It is a taste of something else on the hook, on my mind it frees me not.

(by Bety Tseng 曾培慈 March 1, 2011)

"Autumn Sentiments"

Alone, in silence, up the west tower I go: The moon is like a bow, The autumn leaves of that desolate tree, the phoenix, locked deep in the courtyard below. O threads I can’t cut through, In a tangle I can’t undo! Such is my parting sorrow--- A taste that tastes so odd, so strange that my heart nev’r ever before did know.

(by Andrew W.F. Wong 黃宏發 11/27/2008)

"Young Moon Autumn Night"

In lonesome quietude I climb the West Tower, the young moon hangs high; the deformed moon. A lone parasol tree stands in the desolate courtyard down below; it conjured up the gloomy autumn and wont' let go. Inseverable and uncombable, a cocoon of an exile's sorrow. A state of mind to fathom no one else is able.

(by me, 9/15/2016)

Jing Ye Si (Li Bai) 靜夜思 (李白)

床前明月光，
疑是地上霜。
舉頭望明月，
低頭思故鄉。

"Night Thoughts"

I wake, and moonbeams play around my bed, Glittering like hoar-frost to my wondering eyes; Up towards the glorious moon I raise my head, Then lay me down, - and thoughts of home arise.

(by Herbert A. Giles, 1898)

"Night Thoughts"

Before my bed, the moonlight so bright, Be frost on the ground, I suppose it might. I raise my head and the moon I behold, then I lower it, brooding: I’m homesick tonight.

(by Andrew W.F. Wong 黃宏發 11/27/2008)

"Thoughts on a Still Night"

Fringing my bed the moon glares down Resembles possibly frost that formed on the ground Looking up where sight of the brilliant moon I get To home thoughts I bow my head

(by me, 9/15/2016)