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[transitionaltranslation]

Listening to the Rain - A Poppy’s Song

As a boy I listened atop pagodas to the rain, Crimson candle behind a sash curtain.

As a man I listened low from within a boat sampan, River ebbed wide clouds hung low, Solemn geese called in the western wind wan.

Now I listen to rain from under a vihara roof, Hair already as the night is starry.

Endless are the sorrows and joys of hellos and goodbyes, Raindrops patter on the stairs before me until dawn brings tomorrow’s light.

- Jiang Jie

虞美人·听雨

少年听雨歌楼上，红烛昏罗帐。 壮年听雨客舟中，江阔云低，断雁叫西风。 而今听雨僧庐下，鬓已星星也。 悲欢离合总无情，一任阶前点滴到天明。

-蒋捷

[transitionaltranslation]

Sayonara - for a Japanese maiden

Such is the tenderness of a head lowering, As if a lily shyly impervious to cool breeze, Hark the ring of remembering, hark the ring of remembering Within that sound a taste of bittersweet -  Sayonara!

-Nanhu

沙扬娜拉

最是那一低头的温柔， 恰似水莲花不胜凉风的娇羞， 道一声珍重，道一声珍重， 那一声珍重里有甜蜜的忧愁— 沙扬娜拉！

-徐志摩

[transitionaltranslation]

Another Farewell to Cambridge

Gently I left,   as gently as I arrived; I wave my hand tenderly,   parting with the western sky.

The aurum willow on the riverbank,   is a bride in the twilight; its palette splayed over the waves,   swing within my heart as if a kite.

The nymphoides on the mire ebb,   some submerged with an oily sheen; in the cradling ripples of the river Cam,   I long to be a ribbon of reed.

That shadowed pond under the elm,   is not a clear spring, but a rainbow, shattered amongst the algae,   dyed dreams precipitating aglow.

Dreamchasing?  Grab a long quant,   and row countercurrent to greener grass, with a punt full of color,   sing openly among the hued strass.

Yet I cannot sing freely,   for the reedpipe quietly serenades goodbye; the summer insecta weep for me too,   sorrowful is Cambridge tonight!

Quietly I departed,   as quietly as I came; I wave my swaying sleeves,   without a cloud to my name.

-Nanhu

再别康桥

轻轻的我走了，   正如我轻轻的来； 我轻轻的招手，   作别西天的云彩。

那河畔的金柳，   是夕阳中的新娘； 波光里的艳影，   在我的心头荡漾。

软泥上的青荇，   油油的在水底招摇； 在康河的柔波里，   我甘心做一条水草！

那榆荫下的一潭，   不是清泉，是天上虹； 揉碎在浮藻间，   沉淀着彩虹似的梦。

寻梦？撑一支长篙，   向青草更青处漫溯； 满载一船星辉，   在星辉斑斓里放歌。

但我不能放歌，   悄悄是别离的笙箫； 夏虫也为我沉默，   沉默是今晚的康桥！

悄悄的我走了，   正如我悄悄的来； 我挥一挥衣袖，   不带走一片云彩。

-徐志摩

[transitionaltranslation]

The Piano’s Sorrow

Drizzling rain soaks the curtains, as if soaking my heart. The incoherent wind, whistles past the window, leaving the sound of my piano, in its rumbling wake.

When the concerto reaches new heights, the sounds signal the bounty of life. White clouds drift, in a sunless sky, my anticipation surfaces like sunlight.

All of my woes, irrational terrors, ay, the women really cannot understand. If I were to walk onto the steppe, the piano must surely stop, or gently play on.

-Blond Li

琴的哀

微雨溅湿帘幕， 正是溅湿我的心。 不相干的风， 踱过窗儿作响， 把我的琴声， 也震得不成音了！ 奏到最高音的时候， 似乎预示人生的美满。 露不出日光的天空， 白云正摇荡着， 我的期望将太阳般露出来。 我的一切的忧愁， 无端的恐怖， 她们并不能了解呵。 我若走到原野上时， 琴声定是中止，或柔弱地继续着。

-李金发

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Old Village Dreams

There are two sounds in the little village Both equally lonesome: The fortune teller’s gong in the daytime, And the watchman’s rattle at night.

Unable to shatter their slumber, the blind man walks upon the street as if dreaming himself, one step after the other. He knows what brick is lower, which cobblestone is raised, what age is which family’s daughter.

After shattering their sleep, the watchman walks upon the street as if dreaming himself, one step after the other. He knows which brick is lower, what cobblestone is raised, which house has the door closed tightest.

“It’s past midnight, hark, father wherever you are, your babe is keeping others awake, always crying in his dreams, how ‘bout getting his fortune told tomorrow?”

It is late night, and also the crisp afternoon: the rattler crosses the bridge, the gonger follows, the stream under trickles without cease.

-Forest of Jade

古镇上有两种声音 一样的寂寥： 白天是算命锣，  夜里是梆子。

敲不破别人的梦， 做着梦似的 瞎子在街上走， 一步又一步。 他知道哪一块石头低， 哪一块石头高， 哪一家姑娘有多大年纪。

敲沉了别人的梦， 做着梦似的 更夫在街上走， 一步又一步。 他知道哪一块石头低， 哪一块石头高， 哪一家门户关得最严密

“三更了，你听哪， 毛儿的爸爸， 这小子吵得人睡不成觉， 老在梦里哭， 明天替他算算命吧？”

是深夜， 又是清冷的下午： 敲梆的过桥， 敲锣的又过桥， 不断的是桥下流水的声音。

-卞之琳

[transitionaltranslation]

Luggage

Once upon a time, no matter where I went  I at least still carried with me Four suitcases: glee ire rue joy 

Once upon a time, oh, once upon a time Heaven and Hell amongst the realm of men 

The world, a hopeless case Whoever loves is who rescues I am not stopping you 

Nowadays, oh, nowadays Now I can never recall Anybody or thing of days past 

Today, I only have  One suitcase left: peace

-Bridgehart

行李

从前，无论我走到哪里 至少，都随身携带着 四件行李：喜怒哀乐

从前，哦，从前 人间天堂和地狱

世界，没救了 谁爱就谁去救 我也不拦着你

现在，哦，现在 现在我再也想不起 从前的任何人与事

现在，我只剩下 一件行李：安静

-俞心樵

[transitionaltranslation]

Translator’s Notes, No. 2

“Opus Unfinished” is one of the most definitive poems of the modern Chinese style that many American poets attempted to imitate (most notably Ezra Pound).  It is short, concise, and each word packs a meaningful punch.  It makes you wonder, “Why did the speaker choose a bridge? Why are the onlookers above?”  Through the clever play of verbs, this poem establishes a sense of beauty that is difficult to grasp, which makes the subject’s beauty all the more alluring.  It is truly a timeless masterpiece that is difficult to morph from one language to the next.

[transitionaltranslation]

Opus Unfinished

You stand upon a bridge watching the sights, While the sightseers above watch you.

Silvery moon graces your window sill, While you grace their dreams.

-Forest of Jade

断章

你站在桥上看风景， 看风景人在楼上看你。

明月装饰了你的窗子， 你装饰了别人的梦。

-卞之琳

[transitionaltranslation]

Everlasting Dusk

And the undersides of Providence are cast ablaze by glorious unset light Reflected in a cup of mist green tea with a dash of milk A creamy flow yielding to a bitter dredge

[transitionaltranslation]

Translator’s Notes, No.1

One of the largest problems with translating from Chinese to English is that Chinese subjects do not require an article at any given time.  In English, however, the article can add connotative definitions given its presence or lack thereof.  For instance, in “Teach Me How to Forget Her”, I chose to translate “水面落花慢慢游” as “Fallen petals tenderly flow”.  If I had chosen “The fallen petals tenderly flow,” not only would the imagery be corrupted, but it would also bring into question what specific fallen petals are being referenced.  This problem surfaced multiple times throughout “Teach Me How to Forget Her,” but I managed to avoid the issue by using Emily Dickinson’s tactic of capitalizing certain nouns so as to omit the need for an article prior.  I find it a very useful tool as it not only preserves the article-less connotative definition but also adds a sense of mystery and foggy definition, thus allowing readers to interpret the poem in their own fashion.

[transitionaltranslation]

Teach Me How to Forget Her

Skinny clouds float in the sky, And thin Breeze billows across the earth. Ah! The wind tousles my hair, Tell me, how do I forget her?

Moonbeams kiss the sea surface, And Wave Crests caress the moonlight. Ah! Silver night as sweet as honey, Tell me, how do I forget her?

Fallen Petals tenderly flow, And Fish beneath gently follow. Ah! What are you saying Swallow? Tell me, how do I forget her?

Withered trees tremble in the cold zephyr, And Wildfire blazes under dusk azure. Ah! Some unset sun still shines from the west, Tell me, how do I forget her?

-Liu Fu

天上飘着些微云， 地上吹着些微风。 啊！ 微风吹动了我的头发， 教我如何不想她？

月光恋爱着海洋， 海洋恋爱着月光。 啊！这般蜜也似的银夜。 教我如何不想她？

水面落花慢慢流， 水底鱼儿慢慢游。 啊！ 燕子你说些什么话？ 教我如何不想她？

枯树在冷风里摇， 野火在暮色中烧。 啊！西天还有些儿残霞， 教我如何不想她？

-刘半农   

[transitionaltranslation]

Tengu

I am a tengu! I swallowed the moon, I swallowed the sun, I swallowed all the planets and stars, I swallowed the entire universe. I thus became me!

I am the moonlight, I am the sunlight, I am the light of all the planets and stars, I am an x-ray, I am all the energy in the universe!

I gallop, I holler, I burn. I blaze brighter than a fire! I scream louder than an ocean! I sprint faster than a bolt of lightning! I dart, I dash, I fly, I skin my skin, I feast on my meat, I suckle my blood, I gnaw at my heart, I charge through my axons, I race through my vertebrae, I whisk through my gyri and sulci.

I am thus me! Me is going to implode!

-Guo Moruo

天狗

我是一条天狗呀！ 我把月来吞了， 我把日来吞了， 我把一切的星球来吞了， 我把全宇宙来吞了。 我便是我了！ 　 我是月底光， 我是日底光， 我是一切星球底光， 我是 X 光线底光， 我是全宇宙底 Energy 底总量！ 　 我飞奔， 我狂叫， 我燃烧。 我如烈火一样地燃烧！ 我如大海一样地狂叫！ 我如电气一样地飞跑！ 我飞跑， 我飞跑， 我飞跑， 我剥我的皮， 我食我的肉， 我吸我的血， 我啮我的心肝， 我在我神经上飞跑， 我在我脊髓上飞跑， 我在我脑筋上飞跑。 　 我便是我呀！ 我的我要爆了！

-郭沫若

[transitionaltranslation]

Save It

Save for an early autumn tear storm What can be saved, must all be saved Save hopelessness, save paychecks Save anguish, save agonies Save loneliness, save frustrations Save storge, philia, and eros Save them all Save them for the poor life ahead Tomorrow has nothing in store save for yesterday The hinterlands are nothing save for poverty You have no right to luxury, as all must be saved Save your skin, save your blood Save your cells, save your bones Don’t say you have nothing else to save At least you can still save yourself

-The Workingman’s Poet

省下来

除了一场初秋的泪雨  能省的，都要省下来 绝望要省下来，金钱要省下 绝望要省下来，悲伤要省下来 孤独要省下来，寂寞要省下来 亲情友情爱情通通省下来 把这些通通省下来 用于往后贫穷的生活 明天除了重复什么都没有  远方除了贫穷还是贫穷 所以你没有理由奢侈，一切都要省下来 皮肤你要省下来，血液你要省下来 细胞你要省下来，骨头你要省下来 不要说你再没有可省的东西了 至少你还有你，可以省下来 

-许立志

[transitionaltranslation]

Crossroads

The wind stops, And it stands quietly at where the road meets the ramp. The fence-posts that float through the fog, Open the little door of night: Darkness toasts with an oil lamp.

The muntins of the eyes, Sieve out daylight from the obscurity. Please, learn to leave, Like learning all that ever was, Like learning bliss and misery.

Please, turn away, And let the meek light cascade onto your shoulder. Perhaps you wish to laugh lightly, But the frost flowers lacquering your braids, Together with the night dew gently flow.

- North Island

路口

风停了， 风默默地站在路口。 雾中浮起的栅栏， 打开夜晚的小门： 黑暗在用灯盏敬酒

眼睛上的窗格子， 筛出了迷雾的白昼。 学会离别吧， 象学会以往的一切， 象学会换了与哀愁。

背过身去吧， 让胧弱的灯光落在肩头。 也许你想轻松地笑笑， 而网住发辫的霜花， 和夜露一起缓缓地流。

- 北岛

[transitionaltranslation]

Near and Far

You, Look at me one moment, Then look at the clouds the next. I think, You’re distant looking at me, And close looking at the clouds.

- Watching City

远和近

你， 一会看我， 一会看云。 我觉得， 你看我时很远， 你看云时很近。

- 顾城