Nainai's poetry, part 3 + Gonggong first entry

Last night at my weekly dinner with my parents, my mom and I not only finished translating a mini-biography my dad had written for his high school reunion and two more of my grandma's poems, we also started on a collection of my maternal grandfather's poems. It's funny because I believe I take after these two grandparents the most (my nainai and gonggong). My mom calls our translation time "gong ke", meaning homework. It's way more fun than any homework I can remember.

Here are the two composed by Nainai:

Epiphany

[8 lines of 7 words]

Shift your gaze seventy years now abide

Like ocean waves pulled by the tide

Sweet bitter spice sour I've all tasted

Known chaos, homes left war wasted

So glad heaven sent rains of favor

Sons and daughters my silver hair's savor

Ready for return to life's next plane

As a fairy or flying yellow crane

Untitled

[4 lines of 7 words]

Worries troubles over, forgetting there's a me

Corpses walking mere piles of senseless boredom

Friends' invites, inviting kin just pass time

This empty room stay feeds my loneliness 

And, although he wished each poem to appear on its own page, this is the first of my grandfather's poems in the collection's first section titled Chang Jiang (Yangtze River, indicating his childhood spent in that region):

Spring Day

[5 lines of 4 words] 

I chose this because it is nearly the first one I wrote when I was learning poetry composition.

The year comes to spring

Heaven's heart moves change forth

Hills rivers display dawning light

Grass trees have beaming halos

Nainai's poetry, part 2

[A triplet of 4 lines of 7 words with 1st, 2nd, and 4th line rhyme.]

1983 mid-autumn festival, three people walking beneath the moonlight.

1. 
The creator who created nature's many scenes
Backlights maple trees with moonshine evening breeze
This lovely night's companions shoo away loneliness
Silent prayer for gathering at all festivities

2. (Asking the moon)
Pure white cool shines across the sky
Of all poems ever feelings don't comply
Pens attempt to comprehend you, mid-autumn moon
Have mercy please grant us wisdom's eye

3. (Worship the moon)
Ice globe harmony blinks through evening's oculus
Flower scented night winds blow Sweet Osmanthus
Linking arms ladies walk worshipping the moon
Silent prayers hearts incense peace to us


[5 words per phrase, 70 phrases grouped in sets of 4. This is the longest poem in the volume and it's about my dad.]

1963 mid-autumn. Tenth month (October) 10th day, 10:10 pm. Son Shujing left home for America. The ship departed from Taiwan Jilong port. A mother's farewell to her son.

You are at journey start
Reluctant to see you go
But to fulfill your dreams
Must leave father mother now
 
Pulling your shirt fussing much
Afraid to upset my son
Instead my pen will say
These cautionary words to him
 
Your first time leaving country
To stay as foreign guest
Looking up no welcome face
So don't be a fool
 
Do not be so snobby
Humble meekness will profit you
Ditch know-it-all and cutting talk
This is of most importance
 
Convert your pride to gentleness
Be sincere honest and kind
Grow inner capacity to forebear
To be gracious and chivalrous 
 
Remember all favors from others
In time pay it back
Give help when you can
Build bridges for later days
 
Don’t show your sharp edge
Wicked people may harm you
Choose friends eyes wide open
Steer clear of crazy kids
 
Find a wife who's proper
Even tempered mild and kind
And when you get married
Respect each other as guests
 
You have beginning and end
You have white hair together
Do not pick wild flowers
Do not forsake your wife
 
After studies career on track
Buy a ticket to return
Your parents are still living
Do your duty to please
 
Remember your dad's getting old
Your poor family brothers sisters
Older brothers share father’s burden
Uphold the ancient moral standard
 
Do not forget your roots
Build your life on them
Abroad to advance your disciplines
Yourself first then influence family
 
I hope you become important
A strong pillar for China
Your elderly mom from afar
Seals these wishes for you
 
Peace health and strength always
For your mind and body
Beware the cold and damp
Wear warm clothes eat enough
 
Take good care of yourself
So your parents won't worry
During any times of debauchery
You need to stay home
 
Consorting with partiers and players
Dulls the will to learn
We’ve suffered so much hardship
Hold fast to your goals
 
Persevere finish then come back
The journey's not in vain
There's endless more to say
Each word saddens me more
 
So I'll stop writing here
Keep this on your desk