Talent pool

Establishing the Poetry Club

Springlight flowers moon, savoring fragrant tea.
Group of masters' first gathering, poetry club formed.
Poetry song calligraphy painting, all highly esteemed.
Chinese culture loved for ten-thousand generations.


Chapter 7: Jade-Green Lake

Song of Jade-Green Lake's Lake Water*

North shore beach shallow waters.
South bank rocky depths.
Northern water pale yellow.
Southern water dark green.
Water of the one lake,
Even flowing from antiquity to now.
Seeing the deep color of the water,
How do you know its depth? 

*about three miles east of Taibei. The source was a mountain stream called New Shop river that flowed into a waterfall that cascaded into the lake, which was quite deep. 

Force of nature

Staying the spring

The oriole's song and swallow's talk announce the arrival of spring,
Butterflies dance and bees busy, loving the array of flowers.
All creatures lament that nothing can stay the springtime,
When coming: bright and beautiful; when leaving: no trace at all. 


Big Island Three Yuan Volcano's Mouth

Chienjian* longtime cold and still - Fuji already dark and late,
Only Three Yuan Mountain - fiercely puffing flames of fire.
Climb up to the fire's mouth - broken rocks and howling winds,
Molten lava runs just feet away - glowing heat burns one's face**.
Eruptions sounds like thunder - ash and bits fall in ten-thousand pieces,
Heavy smoke flies into the sky - the sky color is stained red***.
Looking back on East Capitol+ Bay - the sea's surface covered with dark clouds, 
Realize this mountain's height - sea and sky meet in one glance.

*a famous dormant volcano in Japan
**I held a stick and put it in the lava and it burned up 
***When we returned to our hotel at midnight, you could still see the red lava spewing

+Tokyo

A sight to see

Pear Blossom Song

Graceful tree embraces the wind, fresh-colored grass.
Spring light, bright and pretty, shows off the lovely figure.
Snow as skin and flesh, plum as shadow.
Cold scent floats along, leaving behind fragrance.

The figure of a young woman is often compared to a stately tree.

Long Good River Fishing Bird

Bright eyes, sharp beak, lots of skill.
Wings soaring, quite a spectacle.
In dark night, deep stream, good at fishing.
Master feeds you to use your teeth and claws.
Several times, try to fly, return alight.
No swallow, no spit up, neck bound. 
"Fisherman, fisherman, how clever you are."
Daily gives the cormorant one fullness.

My boss sometimes makes the comment that the government doesn't let workers have enough food; they are not as good as the fisherman.

The expression usually is "claws & teeth" which represent henchmen.

About the past

Evening Boredom

Leisure time with no plans to ward off a bit of sorrow.
Just picked up a book of poetry and read several.
In front of the lamp, hard for a single shadow to laugh.
Don't think about the past so not to crease your brow.

[This is the second of her series written for the poetry club.]

jun (handsome/pretty in appearance; brilliant mind) - died in March 1993 at the age of 83, inferred born in 1910.

Yishanbao

We came to this beautiful place by happenstance.
Accompanying us, such nice mountains and waters.
High peaks and dense forest covered in light fog,
Winding streams, loping bridges, locked up by twilight smoke.
Brilliant architecture makes the buildings pretty.
Refined hotelier well-read and sophisticated.
Talk about what happened forty years ago,
Pointing out the very jade-colored hot spring.

I went with my colleagues, it was better than we expected. We stayed in a hotel. The owner and his family are all well-educated and graduates of famous schools. It's unique to have interaction with the hoteliers.

The hotel was built into the mountain.

Forty years ago, Governor Cen, who had received Taiwan from the Japanese, visited this place and this owner remembered him. They talked about the past forty year's events. The owner told them Governor Cen especially liked the hot springs, iron-laden.

Friends & flowers

On the occasion of our first meeting

Peach blossoms swaying like a drunk.
New branches on an ancient willow, green and tender.
Call forth my poet friends, add to their zeal.
This spring, opening ahead, the first voice. 

In Chicago, March 1991, we formed a poetry club. This was the inaugural meeting. I wrote five poems.

My mom taught me a cute set of 7 word phrases representing the cultured person vs. reality, or the maiden's dream vs. the housewife's daily life:

Music                      Firewood
Chess                     Rice
Calligraphy              Oil
Painting                  Salt  
Poetry                     Soy sauce
Drinking                  Vinegar
Flowers                   Tea

I made her laugh by saying it's true, I am the first list whereas my sister (who is married with four kids) is the second.

Flower Way

Thin green, wide red, kinds don't match.
Only one good flower surrounded by grass.
These once, after arranged by skilled hands,
Weeds and broken branches, now art, their former state surpass.

I went to a friend's house, who had a flower arrangement. This flower arrangement is a cultural thing, there are many schools of thought in arranging the flowers. 

Flowers and tea

Part 5 of the mid-autumn festival set

Spring flowers finished blooming, willow has new shoots.
Another spring bids farewell.
Next year the flowers will grow again,
But for people, their youth will not renew.
I pity the hundreds of flower, the flowers pity me;
Makes one confused and unsure.

Mao wanted to fool the people and said "hundreds of flowers, you can bloom now." meaning you can now criticize the government freely. "But you know what happened," adds my mom.

pu su1 mi2 li3 = confusing vague undefined ambiguous


Tea Ceremony School

This popular tea ceremony's heritage traces back to old origins.
Preparing flips and movements, water at just the right temperature.
Lift up tea cup, lower your head.
White-hair tending stove, her manner is dignified.

This tea methodology was received from China 500 years ago. Every tea ceremony has specific procedure and ritual: how you lift the cup, how you pour the tea, etc. Everything has a proper way.

Old miracles

Afraid to visit Lake Xi and remember the days gone by.
At a tender young age, went down to Hanzhou.
Ten-thousand people come and go, all saying how nice the lake is.
For a thousand ten-thousand years, visits made to this scenic spot.
From antiquity til now, people who come wish it would last forever.
Through many changes and several wars, still kept here.
A work of God, truly!

Lake Xi (pronounced like 'she') is a famous lake in the city of Hanzhou.
Thousand ten-thousand years means from the beginning of time, in all of history.

Eight Blossom Garden

Fan Zu truly has a way of healthy living:
Do whatever is in your heart without worry.
Plate-plant was sought from Kuyedao,
Endured wind, frost and drought, flood.
Eight Blossom Garden's woods and streams are all good,
Man and pine tree both aren't old.

In Dongjing, there was a Japanese politician and businessman named Jiouyuanfanzizu. He had a lot of contact with Chinese. Though he was over 80 years old, he was healthy like a 50-something. After the war, he retired to Eight Blossom Garden. He heard that we were coming and specially invited us to visit him. He loved to share health tips and have people admire his bonsai from Kuyedao (an island in northern Japan).

*It a pine tree and less than a foot high but several hundred years old.

Confucius said once you're 70 you can do whatever you want to do but you won't cross any lines.

Pengzai - place planting - banzai 

Eyebrows

The past few years feels all over the place.
In the midst, much fascinating joy, many sweet tastes.
Who deserves to be so blessed?
Wishing you more, long-lasting and effortless.
Half a letter, half a sonnet,
To let you know my present peace.
The past few years, what's left is healthy.
When next we meet, we'll raise our brows.

To raise eyebrows means that their wishes will be fulfilled.

Old poem: there was an old couple who was poor, everything that happened to them was sad. Later on the wife died. The husband wrote all these poems. There were two sentences he wrote:

Since you died, my eyes are open all night,
To compensate for your lifetime of never raising your eyebrows.

The Geisha of the Garden Pagoda

Pretty, in thick make-up, carrying jade cups,
Waitresses, don't need to guess what's in their hearts.
Nightmares about battle zone, a wife's dwelling cold,
After ten years, the ones who went to war have not returned.

There was a Japanese named Ben Cuan. In the war, he was in the military and his army was placed in Shanghai. At that time, he was powerful and famous. After the Japanese surrendered, he was sent back to Japan. After the war, he was treated well by the Chinese government. After he returned to Japan, when I and my coworkers went back to Tokyo, he came especially to greet us and hosted a dinner. There were geisha who served us. Even though they were hospitable, attentive and smiling, between their eyes and eyebrows they couldn't hide their sadness.

My mom told me about a famous poem, some lines from it are:

What a pity, these Wuding River bones, Still, in a woman's dwelling, dreams of this man.

Jing Sho (brightly woven / ornately embroidered)

A sheet full of a variety of happiness,
Years past of hard work were not in vain.
Growing old, accept honor from your children and grandchildren,
Understand: to harvest one must till.

Eyefuls of glitz, dazzle, and shine:
Children and grandchildren dressed in bright embroidery, together for feasting.
A pair of stars enjoy such consolation,
On earth, such wild heavenly bliss.


New section: Pongyiji

After working in Taiwan for a while, the Taiwanese government sent him to Japan to make a commerce treaty. At that time, Japan was still under American authorities. Typically, when you win a war, you're the boss and the losers are the peons. But these Americans were rude and treated the Taiwanese like the Japanese, even though China was an Allied power. My boss had a hard time forging a treaty and their conferences go nowhere. They cancelled meetings for a month. There's a lot of time, there's nothing to do but to tour Japan while they waited. Until the Korean war started, then the US changed their attitude towards Taiwan, knowing they needed their cooperation. Then the treaty progressed. It benefited Taiwan to trade with Japan as they were the majority trading country.

This visit to Japan, he went to places he had gone during his college days, many drastically changed by WWII.

Shanggun Fuji Imperial Resort

This resort used to be for the royal family only.
Now here comes new masters who build closing doors.
A huge building decorated everywhere with shiny silks.
Painted screens and jewels on display.

Yellow-clothes* dancing, even the flower smile.
Waitresses** in delicate sleeves, pouring drinks, wear gleaming jade.
Unlike the revenging of the Wus, there remains regret,
And no partridges will fly in this estate.

*the occupying US wore yellow uniforms
**the waitstaff were all Japanese women

Now a hotel for ordinary citizens.

My mom told me about the famous story of the Wu and Yue families. They feuded and Wu won, and Yue swore revenge. Yue knew that it took a long time to fight back and the weaknesses of human nature: at first, one might be zealous, but as time goes on, one loses motivation. In order so he wouldn't forget: everyday he slept on fireplace logs, ate animals gall bladders, and hired a person to stand the doorway of his house and remind him about his oath upon every entrance and exit. Eventually, he did revenge his family and successfully killed off the Wus. 

Many poets have written about this vendetta. One poem says that after all the activity and liveliness of the palaces during the Wu-Yue vendetta, now only partridges (Francolinus chinensis) fly there.

Single

Mid Autumn Festival Eve

Lift your head to look at the moon*
Just at mid-autumn, the perfect festival.
One year passes easily.
Red leaves, western wind,
Yellow chrysanthemum in full bloom.
This quiet place is lonesome,
Baseline, adding a little feeling of regret.
Deep into the night the dew grows heavy.
Cool pillow and mat make it hard to fall asleep.
Thoughts go on and on, regrets go on and on.**
When people grow old, they lose whatever desires.
Old country, hard to go back,
The pretty young foreigner has already lived at the end of the earth a long time.

*a direct quote from a poem by one of the most famous poets Li Bai
**another famous poem says: Someone went up the mountain, can't see the future or the past. Thinking about the heavens and earth goes on and on. One person stands, shedding tears.


Oranbi

Our country's fortress called Oranbi.
Outstretched to the southern ocean.
Tall lighthouse, a single spire strategically placed.
Ten-thousand nautical miles of green waves; one red light.

At the most southern point of Taiwan is Oranbi, where there is the biggest lighthouse in southeast Asia. It was constructed in 1882 and later the Japanese rebuilt it. 

*Its light could shine for 20 miles.

Note: the 'bi' in Oranbi means nose.

Aforementioned

Sentiments on autumn wind and rain

Misting rain dampens steps, constant drip drop,
One withered lily petal, so sick and worn.
Fall ends, winter comes, spring will return,
One's life grows old, and leaves no trace.


Painted fan without words

Red trees, smoke in the air, impression of tranquility.
Lake and mountains, lovely scene, contrasts the charred remains. 
Why is there no inscription nor signature?
It must mean no one took credit for the accomplishment.

The painting was very outstanding but because there was no signature, I assumed the artist purposely wanted to remain anonymous.

Using the previous poem to memorialize Cen Yi

Heavily made-up or lightly touched, done by exquisite hand.
Tall trees and mountain peaks, clear water bay.
Exerting utmost effort, without a single word.
Still remains a half part of good lake and mountains. 

Taiwan's first governor, Cen Yi, oversaw the police and the executive branch of the government. He made many improvements in Taiwan's education and infrastructure to modernize the island. When the Nationalist army required assistance on the mainland, the police were moved there to help. The sentiments fomented to culminate in February 28 event occurred during this time and the Governor Cen was blamed for the conflict and didn't make any defense or explanation; and subsequently was dismissed from office. 

Beauty is fleeting

Real feelings, real surroundings

Strolling moonlit steps wet embroidered shoes,
Deepening cold dew ascending orchid stairs.
Cloud-covered moon light, our vague rues,
United together new poems for hearts' brief amuse.


Beitou

Thick forest, dark green covers low mountains at dusk
Green streams full of bare rocks in hot springs
The resort cannot keep springtime from leaving
Azaleas bloom, rambling orioles sing

All these years, I wrote several poems about Beitou, but chose this one to represent them.

Hard times

1984 Mid-Autumn Entry

Golden Orchids set a date to celebrate mid-autumn.
Tug on sleeves, open up, sing rounds together. 
Moon Goddess, where will you go tonight?
I'll follow the moonlight to Lonely Tower.

- Golden Orchids was probably the name of my grandmother's poetry group
- You can read more about Moon Goddess--a fabled lady who stole the elixir that gave eternal youth from an emperor and then fled to the moon.

2/28

Taiwan had a most unfortunate event. When it happened, I was there. At first, I didn't want to say anything about 2/28, but after I read Mr. Chen's poem, I felt compelled to respond with another poem.

No wind on the ocean, yet waves foment.
Furthermore, mountain clouds change and shift rapidly.
Breakers crash over this land next to the South Sea.
At this time, the end of spring, rain beats down.*
When the frost comes, cypress and pine drop needles later.
The setting sun, nothing save some smoke and a few evening clouds.
Forecast next year's flowers will be better.
Finished reading poem, don't take it lightly. 

*After of 2/28 there were several days of heavy rain, because of that the death toll was less than it could have been.

Location anniversary

On the first anniversary of living in Taiwan

Coming from far away to these islands, pioneering empty wilderness
Looking back over the past year, recording key events
Ten-thousand streets flow together to return homeward to ocean land*
Sky-wide dawning colors cover the whole territory 
Whole body full of treasures for people to praise and sing 
Bamboo rains and orchid winds at your command
Greatest happiness: after recovering the old land,
Politic map shows new expansion to Pung Hu

*many people struggle and fought to arrive first

Xinzhu (new bamboo) is on the western side and Yilan (suited for orchids) is on the eastern side. But Taiwanese usually associated Xinzhu with wind and Yilan with rain. Here my grandfather has intentionally switched them to make the point that they can be ordered anyway you wish.

My great-grandfather was born in 1866. He worked ten acres of inherited land, and when he was old, he went to live with my mom's family in Taipei, sometime before 1949 when the Communists took over. My great uncle died on a ship wreck during Chinese New Years. My mom remembers my great grandfather being very sad. She still feels a little guilty thinking about her widowed aunt and her three male cousins who remained in China during Communist takeover. 

When they didn't have much food to eat, they would eat hot peppers and some rice. 

My mom remembers her grandfather saying that even if his son hadn't been educated, if he wasn't working in banking in Taiwan, he would have been a very good farmer--he was very proud of my grandfather. 

Farewell to a sister-in-law

Many years parted, overjoyed to meet again 
Holding hands, talking happily like the midst of a dream
Like water, years' light passes in the blink of an eye
In this life, hope remains to grasp a spring breeze

Arrived quick quick, leaving quickly
Highly attentive, one voice is regarded as precious
Teary-eyed looking at each other, departing with regret 
We both carry feelings at coming to bid farewell

Farewell to fourth paternal aunt who came to visit from Hong Kong and toured the States for a month, touring with her daughter. This was the happiest time for her, a wish of a lifetime come true. 

spring breeze = warm, happy, everything going your way

- This was my grandfather's older sister with whom my dad and his older brother stayed when they left mainland China fleeing the Communists and prior to joining up with the rest of their family in Taiwan. 
- According to my mom, this was the time my dad tasted life as a guest, and depending on someone who's not your own family. "Once you don't live with your own family, you grow up real fast, and don't take things for granted, and become smart at detecting other people's feelings and expressions." Apparently my great-aunt's husband was an opium addict so the family was poor and two more mouths exacerbated their already scarce food portions.

Dull fruit

Nighttime Boredom

Dullness comes without remedy for this mild mood swing low.
Gathering up a random poem temporarily relieves sorrow.
The lamp casts a single shadow, it's hard to laugh.
Lay down thinking about the past, brow to unfurrow.

"Lay down thinking" intentionally translates the double meaning in the Chinese: either "cease from thinking", or "go to sleep thinking about".

Picking Oranges

A hundred acres of stepped fields surround this green mountain. 
Village front village hind--the plumpest oranges.
Climb around dense woods, you pick and pull.
Return with whole body infused in sweet fragrance. 

Few people visited Seven Star Mountain. There were orange orchards there. After the war, there was a Japanese man who didn't return and stayed in Taiwan. He was treated by the Chinese pretty well so he was very grateful and several times invited the Chinese to return the favor. One weekend, my colleagues and I went to visit and, knowing the mountain very well, the Japanese man, Mr. Little Boss, showed us around. We had a good time.

I am continually amazed by the way I take after my grandmother with my frequent boredom and bouts of mild melancholy. Also, my grandfather represents where I got my adventurous side and love of picking fresh fruit.

Again

Five years later, seeing sister Chuen again in Chicago

Several years ago we talked and walked by Mirror Lake,
Today we see each other at the corner of the sea.
Short our lives, short our meeting;
Someday we'll reunite again, with more happiness.


Blood-colored Cherry Blossoms

In front of Double Leaf, a half acre of plantings,
Big Harmony's special varieties came from afar.
Who pities the Three Islands' broken homeland?
Only see the cherry flowers blossom open with blood.

We went to Double Leaf Resort another time. There were several Japanese cherry trees and we came just at the peak of blossoming. Since we arrived in Taiwan, we've been busy returning the Japanese people to Japan, they've lived here fifty years. The Japanese look so calm, their appearances don't indicate that their country had been defeated. These people didn't show any emotion. 

Notes:
- The Japanese call their nation Big Harmony (da he). My mom jokes that all the physically small nations call themselves big: Big Harmony, Big Han (Korea). China is big so it doesn't have to call itself big.
- Japan is comprised of three big islands.
- There's a classic poem that says: the tree in the yard doesn't know the household has moved; spring comes and it blooms just like before. 
- My mom says, all over people are the same. She had a Japanese friend in grad school--"of course"--because everyone else was American. The friend apologized for Japan causing so much trouble in China. My mom said it's the warriors who are responsible, most people don't want war. People can be friends. Her friend told her many stories about growing up in Japan: we used to be so obedient, we'd stand in line for the drinking fountain and no one would cut. Nowadays the kids are not like that at all, they say: why don't we have more drinking fountains so the lines won't be so long? When we were kids, no one would have dreamed of saying that. 

Other people

A poem written based off of someone else's idea

Grand desire, flying high over several seas,
Like flowing water, years of life one grieves.
Set goals missed, no reward, years counted past,
Bird chirps over and over, reminder of reprise.


Double Leaf Resort

Down among a hundred flowers, there is an alkaline spring,
A place of quiet stillness, dotted with a few houses.
Ten-thousand lowly earthen vessels all washed clean,
Clothed in Japanese, sitting around, by the side of a clear stream. 

My first Sunday in Taiwan, I went to Beitou with my boss, Yen Jingbuo. We went to a special hot spring that was heated by calcium, not the usual sulfur which has a foul smell. It was on top of a mountain, by a stream. Afterwards, we were dressed in Japanese clothing, which is very comfortable and non-constricting, and relaxed in the lounge that had a scenic view and the sound of trickling water. In the room hung a wall of sayings, one of which said, "Deep down among hundreds of kinds of flowers."

- My grandfather's boss later became president of Taiwan.
- Most likely, my mom thinks, this was not a place just anyone could go. Since Japanese people built spas in still quiet places, away from the hubbub of the city, they also valued hot springs and baths.

Death by virtue

Day breaks sing aloud to proclaim it's morning:

Wake up every kind of men in the world.

Diligently tilling studying hard crazy zealous ones:

Count on vast wealth to save ten-thousand people.

At rooster call, rise to dance, as the ancients say.

Brave one - successful, accomplished, special and outstanding.

Quyuan did not take Yufu's advice.

To whom will you tell your hidden sorrow?

Writing poetry expresses your pent up emotions. Also, you can play with the words. I'm getting old; inspiration has diminished a lot. Once in a while I'll write down some of my feelings. Don't despise my poor badly written poems so much that you don't look. I hope that you'll still edit them and give me some comments. I had the good fortune to meet you, even though in my later years. I'm writing about roosters since we are both roosters. I wrote two poems and ask you to review both. 

Yufu - a fisherman Quyuan met who told him wise persons usually do not strictly observe rules. You should follow the trend of the world. Everyone else is drunk and corrupt. Why should you be the only one upholding virtues? Because you are virtuous, the people sent you into exile.

[New chapter: Tai Pong (Islands of Taiwan and Ponghu)]

Flight to Taiwan

Dark clouds swept clear, blue skies open.

Slip of paper transmits surprising news of victory, 

I, also, am to ambassador the recovery of an ocean territory, 

Riding the wind directly to this nearly mythical island.

Defending war of eight years, finally victory came. Almost immediately after, I received a telegram from Governor Cen, demanding me to go to Taiwan directly. The government arranged a US military plane to take me from Shanghai to Taiwan. I wrote this poem on the plane after take off; it was a sunny day. Looking down from the plane I saw the clouds and the ocean. Not long into the flight, I saw the islands of Taiwan and Ponghu. 

1931 Japan invades Manchuria

1937 July 7 Japan invades Beijing - 1945

A year later, my grandma, mother, and her brothers took a military plane to Taiwan too. She remembers being dizzy and uncomfortable the entire flight. The seating was towards the center of the plane: her elder brother next to her mom next to her, with her younger brother, who cried the whole trip, lying across the three of them. She also remembers running with excitement to see Chinese planes in the sky.

Governer Cen was sad character in struggle between the Nationalists and Communists. My grandfather liked this man. 2 2 8 (Feb 28) Mainland / Taiwan conflict. To please the Taiwanese Cheng kai shek said he was a communist spy and Cen was executed. 

One of mom's classmates' fathers was killed in 2 2 8. She held a grudge against the Nationalists. Some years ago at a high school reunion, she met her husband who was from a Christian family and talked about forgiveness. She wrote an email that she wasn't bitter against the Nationalists anymore. 

Increased learning

Reply to Mr. Kong

With surprise and gratitude, received a poem from upperclassman
For a long time lacked interest [in poetry], then opened your letter. 
Before poetry club becomes a distant memory
Today's brick will draw out others' jade.
I submit to you three or five old written poems
And respectfully request your edits and corrections for my edification.
In the future, one of these days, if I write a new poem
I'll ask for more refining and polishing.

- we assume he's a friend from the Chicago poetry club
- There's a Chinese saying that first a brick is set forth, and it draws out the jade. It's impolite to say your own poem is good. So you say of your own writing, oh, it's just the brick first tossed out that drew forth jade. You show respect and deference by asking other writers to give comments and suggestions. 
- the word for upper in upperclassman is the same as edification (increased learning)
- Jade needs refining and shaping


SS Conte Verde

Sound of drums
Take a stroll
Came to look at the river's scenery
Across river middle
In pagoda shadow
A huge ship, tons of metal walls
Jade carved many levels
Gold cast ship decks
Waves rock the boat like silver snow
A palace on the sea
Rumbling exclamations about Rome's wonder
No one imagined an attack on this dictator
In power for twenty years
Overthrown in one day
Bad news via telegram
Express loyalty and patriotism
Self bored Jade Mountain split apart
Following righteousness, courageous and determined
Sigh about their sacrifice and fidelity
Little room for asking questions 
Pushed and pulled not moved
Deep into the night remaining image in the moonlit river

A big famous Italian luxury cruise ship called Kangtifude, 30,000 tons. During WWII the Italians used this ship to carry many people to Asia. Since Italy was an Axis power, the ship ported at (Japanese-controlled) Shanghai. The Italians had a coup to overthrow Mussolini who had been dictator for twenty years. He was put in jail. Another power Bateliyao (Badoglio) declared war against Japan and Germany. This boat became an enemy of Japan, so the ship's captain received a telegram with the news, and, within 35 minutes, they decided to not to let the Japanese gain access to the ship, so they sank it with the crew on board. Because the river wasn't deep enough, two-thirds of the ship remained above the water line. The Japanese used a huge amount of money to recover the ship. They used cables hooked to big buildings lining the waterfront and cranes, and worked for several months. But they couldn't recover it and let it sit in the middle of the water for a long time. People would walk around, feeling sad for the Italian patriots. So I wrote a poem about it. 

- This is the first time translating a ci2 a pre-set lyrical form with lines of differing lengths. Sudongbuo form.
- http://www.rickshaw.org/ships_that_brought_us.htm
- http://www.rickshaw.org/sinking.htm
- voluntary, determined, and willing [to die for one's country] (this word is my last name), following righteousness
- another reason I'm sure I'll love Shanghai

Cold

On a snowy stormy night

1. 
Cold night rain snow blowing blustery eve
Happen upon a sorrowful person who cannot dream
The past is water, long flowed by
How can you bear tracing back your old feelings?

2. 
A person's feelings actually deceive one's self
Young spring's short stay is hard to grasp
In the blink of an eye time leaps away
Cannot know when you'll again return to old dreams

- young spring is a metaphor for youth 


Year's end

This year end has come,
Outside person so far away.
Head board gold already gone,
Case bottom sword now gray.
Rain drizzling very cold spring,
Way long road muddy loam.
When'll land have order, peace?
Ragged clothes yet think: home.  

- outside person is the one at war or at work or a student, anyone who has left home
- head board is where Chinese traditionally kept money (like 'under the mattress')
- the usual saying is: when your clothes are nice, you think of going home

15, 60, and 30 years

The facts about my marriage and the road of my life

Fighting birds become a happy couple
Flee from war westward to Sichuan
After victory return to hometown
Run away from the red plague
On the island of Taiwan, our hands were rend 
Peaceful living for fifteen years 
Follow my children traveling America
Whole life experienced all kinds of things
Ruddy complexion changes to white hair
Old age no desires or pursuits
Waiting for the heavenly land
I arrived to the Yung family sixty autumns ago
When youth becomes aged, what do you still want?
Time after time, the whole night often think back
Remembering those years and cry streams of tears
Reading Buddha studying scripture to prevent suffocating
Cultivate heart tend heart don't chase dreams


A hundred words on Hatong

Jewish nation disintegrated
Their people covered in dark dust
  Most pitiful person Hatong
  Nothing else but his self
Wandered the eastern sea to Shanghai
Songhu was a deserted village
  New growing commercial shipping port
  Poor sick work as sentry guard
Bought cheap waterfront land
Without much thought he purchased
  Thirty years later, a thriving city
  An inch of land becomes an inch of gold
One day his wealth exceeds a nation's
Fancy buildings called Jialing
  He didn't plan to retain his wealth
  Eagles dogs lawlessly attack
Developed nice Hatong Road
Deserted empty Aili Garden
  Our lives are like springtime dreams
  This one left a trace 

The Jewish people didn't have a country, so they wandered around. Hatong was of Jewish decent. When Hatong first came to Shanghai, it was a desolate fishing village. He was very poor and sick. He became a door guard for a foreign company. After some time, he bought a lot of land at a low price. Later, the land value increased and he became a millionaire. He married a Chinese woman named Jialing and named many buildings after his wife. He became an influential developer and philanthropist. Hatong Road was a nice part of town. 

Notes:
Songhu is an older name for Shanghai.
Aili (loving couple) Garden was the nicest garden in Shanghai for a while, then was neglected.
The usual saying is that spring dreams leave no trace.

Location location

Beidang Road

Luxuriously fancy, ten miles of grand foreign shopping
Stone-paved wide flat-even road named Petain
Green trees, red walls hangout happy clubs
Dark-green ivy, jade-color shingled gospel houses
Signs turn sideways, horizontal words
People's language ee-ya-sounds, upside-down voice
This Zhina truly is Chinese territory
But could it be that I am in France?

This was the French Quarter's most modern road. Both sides of the street had residential and commercial buildings. All the architecture was in the most fashionable style and Western. Having grown up in a rural area, when I saw it I was so impressed; such a startling contrast to my roots.

Notes:
- most roads were dirt, unpaved, and bumpy
- a gospel house is a church
- signs in China are vertical; horizontal has a double meaning of ruthless (lying vs upright)
- Beidang is a homophone for a French person, a street in the French Concession in Shanghai. It is now called Hengshan Lu.

1985 before mid-autumn festival. My church sister had a dinner party to bid farewell to another sister Yao. I wrote three poems to bid her goodbye.

1.
Mid-autumn upon us, farewell table set
Close sisters sung poems for several years
From now on, this literary altar will see no more generations
Every holiday, I'll think on our friendship multiplied

2. 
Return home, lo, happy to enjoy your family
Ought to sing more in your home and garden
Spring flowers, autumn moon form a pleasant phrase
Far-off, send new poems, a neighborly consolation

3.
Every year we plan to celebrate together
Tonight's moonlight looks rather shy
I was known for my sad emotional goodbyes
Disdain this glass of wine and talk of departure

On mid-autumn festival, Miss Ying, Miss Ming, Miss Jun (my grandma) wrote this together.

Reply to brother-in-law

In reply to my younger sister's husband Xien Zhang's letter

Your letter arrived, I opened it, and read it as a poem
Writing back, as I please, talking about old times
Made me suddenly remember what happened in the provinces of Ching & Gui
Broken-hearted difficulties and sadness endured together

We had no happy days there
Secretly you left without saying anything to me
By the time I found, you had already departed
In my heart, so sour, praying for your safe journey

Fortunately, my older brother was there in my place
Thirty years have past to the turning point of fate
I'm thankful to heaven for protecting you
Hitting rock bottom, at the end, goodness follows 

Heaven destined us to face this wretched world
Fleeing war, we headed westward
Renting in a different territory, nothing we can do
As age grows older, makes things sadder

At leisure, strange music, I'm homesick
What day can we return to our hometown?
I don't expect when drink to our hearts content
Today we are blessed to meet in this other place

We are all sojourners at the ends of the earth
You and I both at our old age depend on our children
Then we'll taste happiness with limit
"Does this nonsense make you laugh?"

Your sister Jun, 
I'm writing in reply to your letter, and send greetings to both of you

Looking up, looking back

1982 mid-autumn festival - Sister Xu and I went to Grandma Cho's for dinner and to look at the moon. In the deep of the night, the three of us walked in the yard; playing, talking, and eating. Even though we are in a foreign country, we got together for this festival. Grandma Xu was inspired and composed a poem, and invited me to compose lines to match it.

Without cause, a bright essence shadow in the middle of the sky
Super brilliant horizon, infinite thoughts
Four walls, music and singing heightens our imminent departure
Where is my old country, bright moonlight?

Noble essence, high up, hangs in the empty sky
Strolling along, step by step, our interests are the same
Chatting about the old country, remembering past traditions
I can't bear to look back, bright moonlight

Several times life changes, damages of war
Turmoil quiets, realize the emptiness of pursing a colorful life
Escaped from Qing dynasty, meet together in this paradise
Each of us, looking at the moon, meanings not the same

- A famous poem written by exiled, dethroned emperor Li Yu says, "I can't bear to look back at my old country in the bright moonlight." It was common practice to use allusions, as your words could be used against you. 
- Qing alludes to wartime