Tonight, before we started on our regular translation of one nainai poem and one gonggong poem, my mom showed me a book of Chinese poems for young people that gonggong had sent to me and my sisters as a Christmas present. So we added onto our repertoire to read through one poem to work on my character recognition. It's pretty fabulous--seeing as my grandfather obviously wanted me to learn Chinese poetry. Better late than never! My mom selected one famous poem that likens the wind to scissors, which is the same imagery as gonggong used in tonight's selection.
[Nainai: mini history lesson from mom: there is a classic poem about a newlywed bride who urged her husband to go to the city to seek fortune. Spring came, symbolized by the willow tree turning green, then she regretted sending him away.]
Spring Day Epiphany
Ah, the willow tree is green
See another year has passed
Scenery remains
People change
When we first came here
Hearts alive bursting happy
Blink ten years ease by
Up to now lonesome at midnight
Woke from a sweet dream
Life is water flowing downstream
Never going back
Let’s go back go back
Send worries away push lift
Push lift push lift into white clouds
[Gonggong: 8 lines of 5 words]
Starting Journey to Japan
My family didn’t have enough money to buy me new clothes for my travel to Japan. My mother worried about my not having clothes for winter time. Because my clothing and luggage were so shabby, when I arrived in Japan, the officials didn’t believe I was there for study and thought I was a kuli and would not let me off the ship. I couldn't speak much Japanese. They looked at my luggage and saw textbooks in English. They had me read some and finally were convinced I was there for college. When I left home, my mother stayed by the door watching me walk away. To this day, I tear up remembering.
Crossing over East Sea float
Blowing wind cuts sharp cold
Pocket holds not much cash
One layer thin cotton wearing
Not yet stewarding a family
Still know trips are harsh
Loving mother stayed by door
Dare not turn to look
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment