At hours two seventeen
I woke to see the sky in a web of sheen
Thunderclaps hit in an instant
Shaking my building from no distance
Terrified I turned to look
Ten more series of thunders broke
They peel and bolt
Turning me breathless fears provoked
Nature is showing its wrath
The spheres in a whirl bath Continue reading
Hours after midnight
High above dormant city-lights
Hangs a cobalt blue sky
No wind or sound
When people are in deep slumber
The world is mine to ponder Continue reading
Beneath grey clouds and pale-blue sky
Scattering patches of orange pink rise
Further up a protruding cloud is silver-lined
To complete this fascinating picture of dawn Continue reading
The East Slope 江紹倫譯
Washed by rain the east slope a beauty under moonshine
I arrive to survey the terrain people had left behind
Do not dismiss this deserted slope leading to nowhere
Here I stick my staff heavy its resonance loud and clear
Begonia (1) 江紹倫譯
Her noble beauty shines in vernal breeze
The moon moving across sky keeps the world in spree
I fear this flower falls into slumber deep at night
And burn a red candle to keep her looks in delight
The Plum Flower (1) 江紹倫譯
Spring brings lyrical murmurs to this serene valley
Salient plum trees bloom amid wild grasses calmly
Winds all night trigger thick ice to break
I cross the mountain passes Nature’s beauty my mate Continue reading
My Way Home to Yi Xin 江紹倫譯
For ten years west winds carried my dreams back home
This time I have decided to lead a rustic life my own
I repeatedly seek for the sweet well water of my native land
And bring something homely with me across the river to east bank
My life now is free from responsibilities or gains
A good year promises high yields of produces and grains
On my way home from the mountain shrine there is good news
Even wild flowers and singing birds make up a grand view
《滿江紅》 江紹倫
Tune: A River in Red On Air Toronto to Hong Kong By Kong Shiu Loon, summer of 2013
The silvery bird soars
Above all clouds float
Leisurely gallantly it goes
Lo the expansive sky
Serene luminous fine
My mind opens valley wide
Twenty-three days I visit places familiar
Forty-six years what ups and downs my career
I went abroad to seek knowledge to apply
My venture was not to keep wings from flights
Now that I had gone through the universe
I dedicate to promote world-wide my Chinese culture
What events in the old country
Deliberating current scenes and resent history
So much had changed for people
Their souls afflicted ample
How I watched cultural legends and lore destroyed
How I anticipate old values reaffirming with joy
Whence a delightful grand purview presents
New colours intense
Eighteen Refrains on Tartar Pipes 13,14,15 Cai Yan [Cai Wenji] (ca. 177-?)
Tr. YK Chan 陈耀国译
13
不谓残生兮却得旋归，抚抱胡儿兮泣下沾衣。
This late in life my successful repatriation is not expected,
My blouse’s wetted by tears as my Tartar sons are hugged tight.
汉使迎我兮四牡腓腓，号失声兮谁得知？
With the Han emissary and a four-horse-drawn carriage standing by,
Wildly I wail but who cares even when my wailing voices die?
与我生死兮逢此时，愁为子兮日无光辉，焉得羽翼兮将汝归？
In life-death departure, grieving for my boys the sun shines no more; return them not to me before they grow up?
一步一远兮足难移，魂消影绝兮恩爱遗。
A step farther away from them my feet cannot move,
Though their images are disappearing, my love for them is not remov’d.
十有三拍兮弦急调悲，肝肠搅刺兮人莫我知。
At thirteenth refrain the tempo accelerates and melody turns grave,
No one but me know that I fall apart into an abysmal cave.
14
身归国兮儿莫之随，心悬悬兮长如饥。
Repatriated without my sons for upbringing,
My heart forever starves of all my longings.
四时万物兮有盛衰，唯我愁苦兮不暂移。
Everything thrives or dies according to the seasons,
But my sorrow and bitterness never waive with reasons.
山高地阔兮见汝无期，更深夜阑兮梦汝来斯。
In this whole wide world we’ll ne’er meet again,
Late at night in my dream you two come to me again.
梦中执手兮一喜一悲，觉后痛我心兮无休歇时。
Dreaming of holding your hands I’m split between joy and grief,
Awake my heart pangs never stop to offer me relief.
十有四拍兮涕泪交垂，河水东流兮心是思。
By fourteenth refrain my sobs and tears mingle,
Like a stream flowing east my thoughts tingle.
15
十五拍兮节调促，气填胸兮谁识曲？
The tempo accelerates at fifteenth refrain,
Who’d recognize sulking and anger sound like twain?
处 庐兮偶殊俗，愿得归兮天从欲。
Staying in Tartar camp at odds with their custom,
Heaven grants my wish of returning home I fathom.
再还汉国兮欢心足，心有怀兮愁转深。
Repatriating to Han I’m gladly satisfied,
But sadness in my heart is intensified.
日月无私兮曾不照临，子母分离兮意难任。
The sun and moon shine all over but not on me,
For I can’t bear being separated my sons from me
同天隔越兮职商参，生死不相知兮何处寻？
Under the same sky yet we can ne’er meet,
About each other’s well being where to seek?
