A bug metaphor and a village portrait

Lighting* Song by Yu Sinan

Twinkling ebbs of light, faint.
Darting flimsy wings, thin.
Caring greatly that no one notices,
Alone in the dark, bright.

Commentary: the first two lines are about the firefly and the second two lines about the author himself. In the darkness, you don't have to be bright to be seen, even a little light will be evident. In a corrupt society, even a little bit of goodness or kindness is very meaningful.

*Ying2huo3 cong = lighting fire bug

First Time in Yilan*

Bright Orchid established one hundred years ago.
The whole area proudly located at the island's north shore.
Surrounded by a range of mountains that meld into the color of wilderness.
Ten-thousand fenced in houses, smoke luffing from chimneys.
Plains full of ripening rice, a yellow carpet.
The ocean casts high waves, pale green touches the sky.
Walk to the Jiaoqi Village tavern,**
Put on your jacket, tipsy, and go over to the warm springs.

*yi = suitable and pleasant; lan = orchid
**a tourist spot called Jiaoqi warm springs

Whatchutalkingabout

Cicada Song by Yu Sinan (558-638 A.D.)

Cicada mouths drink pure dew,
Their song like water falling from the sparse sycamore trees.
When in a high place, sound travels far,
Without help from the autumn wind.

The notes say this can be like a person, who has good character. You don't need to depend on other people for your influence to count. 

The commentary says Yu Sinan was writing about himself.


Mountain Route from Xindian to Yilan

Many reeds grow among the trees and grass.
Seed heads mat the winding roads,
By the mountainside and down in the valleys: covered.
This place should be called Big Snow Mountain.*

*There's a mountain elsewhere in Taiwan called Big Snow Mountain, but it never has snow.