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

Nainai's poetry, part 1

I was telling my new friend Jen that my mom and I have begun translating a book of poetry my Dad's mom wrote, my grandmother, my sisters and I called her Nainai--as in "til morning is nigh". She said I should blog about it. And so here we go. A fourth repurposing for this blog. To sum up the time since my last post, I spent the rest of the summer in NYC at Deutsch, the beach, and at church. At the end of August I moved to Seattle and found a place in the neighborhood Rainier Beach that I've been in since October 1. Working from home has been nice. Visitors have been fun. Church hunting has been encouraging. And friend-making very pleasant. Best of all has been more regular time with my family.

So, to the point. Chinese poetry has strict forms and also free form.

This is a non-standard couplet Nainai wrote about visiting her first son, an adoptee, after thirty years of separation. The backstory I'll have to tell you in person. His name was Ceng and the description she wrote says: Ceng’s whole family and three of her nieces bidding farewell at the train station.

1. [3 lines of 4 words, 2 lines of 5 words, 1 line of 8 words]
We parted as children
White-haired, we meet
The years in between
 
Full of ups and downs.
Together now, we must rejoice 
 
Don’t let go of the good old days.
 
2. [10 lines of 5 words]
Mother and child meet again
Enjoy fleeting happiness of family
Our lives like morning dew
Together less, mostly far apart
Happy, sing a high song
Leaving, sing a farewell song
Now I ask one departing,
“When are you coming back?”
“I cannot give an answer,
Who knows what will be?"

Let's go crazy!

Washington State is so fun for me now. I mean, it always was, but more in that 'home' sort of way rather than the vacation I now see it as. Started off my July visit with a triathlon!
"Don't worry, everyone looks like a sausage." (encouraging words from) Tina Chan

   

Then there was Sarah and Joe's wedding out on the farm...

...and Seattle to see my family...

 

 

...including walking around Mt. Rainier National Park with my mom...

 

 

...and I still have another weekend in Richlandia coming up! :)

The balance of my NYC summer is ripe with visitors: Shannon from VA, Drew and Jasmine from Boston, and Amber and Kristie from Richlandia. AND I'm going to see the revival of RENT on Broadway! :) Very excited.

And because even my family is confirming with me, yes, I'm returning to WA at the end of August. No one, and I mean no one, believes me...