Chinese Poetry from 小城先生 (Mr. Small Town) at OnLok
We continue our Chinese Poetry collection with more works of 小城先生 (Mr. Small Town - pen name), a participant at OnLok who has written poetry during the pandemic. The following poems were written from July 2020 to September 2021 and detail topics such as COVID-19 shelter-in-place, autumn, Golden Gate Bridge, Double Ninth Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.
Disclaimer: The views and posting represented here are of the author and members of the archival team only and not of the OnLok PACE organization.
*Note on Translations: Please note that English translations of poetry are direct rather than poetic translations. There are many elements in Chinese poetry that cannot be translated, and out of respect for the poet, we recommend our readers who know Chinese to use the original Chinese writing as the standard to understand the poetry.
居家避疫
(Shelter at Home)
小城先生 7-19-2020
曠世毒魔瘧全球，
避疫甘作籠中囚；
閉門難填詞半厥，
推戶曾聞香幾綹？
杯里日月閑如許，
雲外山川空依舊！
人間四月春色好，
柳李桃楊競風流！
Translation:
Unprecedented virus conquers the globe,
To avoid the pandemic, [people] willingly become prisoners in cages;
It’s difficult to fill in words behind shut doors,
Open the door, still remember the fragrance of silkthread from the past?
The sun and the moon in the cup are idle, *
The mountains and rivers behind the clouds are empty as they used to!
Spring scenery in April is beautiful in the world,
Willow, plum, peach, poplar compete for romance!
-Translated by Archival member Tiffany Chen
Archival Comments and Explanation:
*In the fifth line, 日月 literally means sun and moon, but it could also mean time, since sun and moon signifies twenty-four hours of the day. Thus, the fifth line could literally mean the sun and moon reflected in the cup are idle, or refer to the passing time as idle.
The fifth and sixth line contrast each other, as 杯里 (inside cup) portrays a quarantine door, while 云外 (outside cloud) portrays the outside world. This line also serves as a transition from describing the quarantine life to the liveliness and beauty outside.
In the last line, the author describes four different plants 柳(willow), 李 (plum), 桃(peach), and 楊 (poplar) that bloom in spring, competing with each other and making up a beautiful scenery.
秋思
(Autumn Thoughts)
小城先生 9-23-2020
霧籠遠山渺無踪
雁陣排雲上蒼穹
露潤階前草自碧
霜染林間葉正紅
陋室禪心度冬夏
寒塘鶴影入眼瞳
藝術宮外秋月冷
多少離愁寄西風
Translation:
Fog shrouded mountains far away, without leaving a trace
Geese arrayed among the clouds, lining up in the sky
Dew moistened the front step grass, showing green jade color
Frost dyed the forest leaves, showing true red color
In a shabby room, [my] peaceful mind spends winter and summer
In a freezing pond, crane’s shadow came into my pupil (eye)
Outside the art palace, autumn moon is cold
How much sadness and melancholy are sent through the west wind.
-Translated by Archival member Tiffany Chen
Archival Comments and Explanation:
Notice how line 3 and 4 perfectly match each other – to describe an autumn scenery.
In line 5, shabby room(陋室) contrasts with peaceful mind(禪心), showing the author keeping their mind despite the surroundings.
In the last line, 离愁 is a short term for 离别愁绪, which means parting (离别) and melancholy (愁绪). This terms describes the feeling of missing someone or someplace that one parts way from, such as hometown. And “sent through the west wind” means one could only send their thoughts to the wind, hoping it could pass their thoughts to the place/people.
秋分
(The Autumnal Equinox)
小城先生 9-25-2020
四圍曙色天未明，
月影平湖接雁聲。
岸樹何必怨落葉，
悲觀離合亦常情！*
Translation:
Surrounded by the color of dawn, sky is not clear yet,
Moon reflects on the still lake, which catches the sound of wild geese.
Why should the shore tree complain about the fallen leaves?
Vicissitudes of life are normal!
-Translated by Archival member Tiffany Chen
Archival Comments and Explanation:
*悲觀離合 literally means grief at separation and reunion, but often refers to the vicissitudes of life, which means a change of circumstances or fortune.
The first two lines describes a change in season, as the autumnal equinox marks the end of astronomical summer and the beginning of astronomical autumn. (Source: “September_equinox.” Wikimedia Foundation.)
The last two lines use the metaphor of tree and fallen leaves to describe the partings in life, which are a common and normal part of life.
银滩秋晨
(Silver Beach Autumn Dawn)
小城先生 10-18-2020
寒雾重重锁金桥
秋色连波胜春潮
涛声欢歌迎远客
银滩美景慰寂寥
Translation:
Layers of cold fog lock up the Golden Gate
Autumn’s continuous waves takes over Spring’s
The music of the waves greet distant visitors*
The scenery of this silver beach comforts my loneliness
-Translated by Archival member Tiffany Chen
Archival Comments and Explanation:
The title “silver beach” get its name from the high-grade quartz sand that is piled up. Under the sunlight, the beach will glow with silver light, hence the name “Silver Beach”. (Source: “银滩“，kmcha.com)
*Distant visitors term could refer to people, non-human creatures like birds, or autumn waves that came back, etc.
This poem uses a uniform format throughout all 4 lines– specifically, the first four words are subject nouns, the fifth word is a verb, and the last two words are object nouns. Keeping a constant format requires thoughtful word choice and gives the poem a sense of uniformity.
In addition to the format, the rhyme scheme at the end of all lines, except line 3, also match. As in this case, 桥 (qíao, bridge), 潮(cháo, wave), 寂寥(liáo, loneliness), rhyme in Mandarin.
银滩寒露
(Silver Beach Cold Dew)
小城先生 10-18-2020
雾锁金桥雁低飞
秋水连天接朝晖
晓风含情吻翠竹
晨露带香润紫菲
千顷碧波齐起伏
十里银滩独徘徊
遥望征帆三两点
逐浪沉浮不思归
Translation:
Fog locks up the Golden bridge, swallows fly low
Autumn water connects the sky and catches the sunrise
Dawn wind kisses the green bamboo with affection
Morning dew moisten purple flowers with fragrance.
Thousands of blue waves rise and fall together
Ten miles of silver beach, I wander alone
Looking afar windsurfers appear to be two three points
Chasing the waves up and down, lingering on with no intent to leave
-Translated by Archival member Tiffany Chen
Archival Comments and Explanation:
This is a continuation of the Sliver Beach series.
In the first verse, the author portrays the natural scenery at dawn. In particular, lines 3 and 4 correspond with each other in describing how the wind and dew interact with nature. In terms of rhyme scheme, it follows the traditional format of rhyming the last word of lines 1 (飞, fei, fly), 2 (晖, hui, sunset), and 4 (菲, fei, fragrance).
In the second verse, the author depicts views of the sea. Line 1 “Thousands of blue waves” corresponds to line 2 “Ten miles of silver beach,” the scale of which also contrasts with the author wandering alone. This verse essentially conveys how the author was enjoying the ocean views.
重陽感懷
(Double Ninth Festival Reminiscence)
小城先生
秋色如畫獨登樓
重陽思親倍傷憂
故里高堂風前燭
新冠病毒火上油
眼底波濤連天湧
心中思緒著意收
日暮寒林花亂落
斜暉一脈動鄉愁
Translation:
Under the Autumn picturesque views, climbing up the castle alone.
During Double Ninth Festival, reminiscing about my relatives, feeling sad and nostalgic.
In hometown where my parents reside[1], wind blows upon candles. [2]
COVID-19 virus is like pouring oil on the flame.
Eyes are full of turbulent waves, [3]
Mind collecting my thoughts.
Under a sunset in the cold forest, flowers scatter on the ground,
Watching the slanting sunlight, reminiscing about my hometown.
-Translated by Archival member Tiffany Chen
Archival Comments and Explanation:
Background on the Double Ninth Festival (重陽節): a traditional Chinese festival that occurs on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar. It is mentioned in writings since before the Eastern Han period. On this day, Chinese people reminisce about their past relatives and visit the graves of their ancestors to pay respect. (Source: Roy, Christian (2004). Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia. pp. 116. ISBN 978-1576070895.)
[1] 高堂: Literally translates into a “hall with high ceilings,” refers to a place where parents reside. The meaning extends to referring to one’s parents.
[2] In Chinese culture, some people will place the name boards of ancestors in a room, usually with candles and incense, to pay respect and remember those who have passed.
[3] Waves are a metaphor to describe the turbulent time and situation.
往事依稀憶故人
(Reminiscence of the Past)
小城先生 12/25/2020
千山落木冬已深
遠山如黛日西沉
金橋一座跨碧海
銀帆數點沐紫氤
疏枝朝陽尤蒼勁
紅葉隨風更繽紛
老懷未釋家園夢
往事依稀憶故人
Translation:
Thousands of trees fall as the dark winter approaches,
The distant mountains turn dark under the setting sun.
A golden bridge sitting across the blue sea,
Several silver sailing under the purple water vapor [1].
The sparse branches are especially vigorous under the sun,
The red leaves are more colorful with the wind.
My old dream of hometown is unresolved,
Reminiscence of the past stories and people.
-Translated by Archival member Tiffany Chen
Archival Comments and Explanation:
[1] 紫氤: Purple clouds or vapor, in ancient China, they are auspicious signs. Here, it is just used as a phrase to describe the water vapor above the sea.
The author spent the majority of the poem describing the scenery he sees. In the first two lines, he portrays the views of winter coming and sun setting, which are time periods at the end of the year or end of the day. In the last two lines, he reminisces about hometown and the past.
中秋舒懷
(Mid-Autumn Soothing Thoughts)
小城先生 9/21/2021
歷盡劫難又中秋
江山未改景依舊
西嶺濛濛藏海霧
北灘幽幽集海鷗
碧空澄明星伴月
芳圃秀茂楊倚柳
銀屏歡語渡佳節
萬家樂聚共唱酬
Translation:
After all the disasters, it is the Mid-Autumn Festival again,
The scenery of the country has yet remained unchanged.
Drizzly west mountains hide among the sea fog,
Serene north beach collects seagulls.
Clear blue sky, with stars accompanying the moon,
Luxuriant garden, with poplar leaning against the willow.
Surrounded by TV, cheers and laughter, [we] celebrate the festival,
Millions of families gather, cheer and sing together. [1]
-Translated by Archival member Tiffany Chen
Archival Comments and Explanation:
Background about the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节), also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of Chinese lunar calendar, and its history dates back over 3,000 years. On this day, Chinese believe that the Moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of Autumn. This Festival is based on the legend of Chang'e, the Moon goddess in Chinese mythology. People usually gather with their family, celebrate, and give thanks for the harvest. (Sources: "Moon Festival – The Chinese Mid Autumn Festival". 3 June 2021. Roy, Christian (2005). Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia, Volume 1. ABC-CLIO. pp. 282–286. ISBN 978-1576070895. "Mooncakes, lanterns and legends: Your guide to the Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore". AsiaOne. 19 September 2020.)
[1] 唱酬: In ancient Chinese, it literally means “to respond (to a poem) with a poem”, which is a form of entertainment when people gather together. Here, it extends its meaning to refer to people chatting, singing, and having a good time during gatherings.
This last poem of the series describes a lively scene, where people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival despite the disaster. By depicting the mountains, beaches, sky, and gardens that remained uncharged, the author shines a positive light on the circumstances and conveys a hopeful message as people celebrate the festival.