I decided to do poetry reading of my favourite poems from Hidden in Childhood. Purchase click here.
Reading – God’s Grace
Category: Poetry and Prose
Reading – Gentle Rain
I decided to do poetry reading of my favourite poems from Hidden in Childhood. Purchase click here.
#cassaquote – 45
Be who you are
and leave the world behind.
Be who the world wants you to be
and let wonders pass by.
Kite
We had so little
one set of uniform
and a pair of sandals
pencils short like cigarette butts
canvas shoulder bag full of patches
But we had colorful candy wrappers
bamboo sticks and string
to make kites
into a hope filled summer
I still remember him
stick skinny
swimming in this hand-me-down shorts
bare foot skipping on the hot tart road
launched his rainbow kite
into the tangerine sky
We cheered so loud
drown out the sound
of the foraging birds
We had very little
and we had it all
Venture out
Outside
the world looks wonderful
The sun carries no shadow
Beyond the rusted gate
Curiosity meets its fate
Siblings from The Same Root
This image reminds me of an ancient Chinese poem titled Seven Steps Verse written by Cao Zhi who was one of the sons of Cao Cao, a well known Chinese statesman.
The poet uses osmunda and beans from the same root as a metaphor for brothers who share the same father and mother, and accuses Cao Pi (his brother) of brutal persecution of himself and other brothers. The tone is euphemistic and deep, serves as a reminder and advice in the irony.
Here is my attempt to translate this well known poem.
Seven Steps Verse
The beans are crying
in the heating wok
while the osmunda is burning fiercely
to fuel the cooking
Aren’t they from the same root
Then why the torture
to cut lives short
七步诗
煮豆燃豆萁，
豆在釜中泣。
本是同根生，
相煎何太急？
恋周庄 (In Love with Venice of The East)
在那里
忘了时间
忘了世界
深深地沉蕴在那里
历史的长河在呼吸间
显得格外亲近
当年诗人的情怀
似乎还如明月般
打动我的心
独醉在傍晚的暮色
情动在深夜里沉眠的水流如镜
薰香唤醒了迷醉的我
炊烟在潮湿的晨雾里推动我的泪
留恋那里与世无争的沉静
正如我默默思念的你
There
time is invalid
the world is far away
soaking in the long river of history
feeling close in one breath
The poets before me touch my heart
like a bright moon
drunk in the evening twilight
mesmerised by the still water
like a mirror reflecting my rest
The incense wakes me up in the morning
Cooking smoke brings on my tears in the moist morning mist
Nostalgia for the peace and quiet there
as I silently miss you
Inferno
lost in the swamp of heat
without relief, reprieve
disintegrate into ash
cease to exist
梦东园
杨柳青袖随风摇
亭台青瓦傲立高
竹林深处露湖光
东园梦里忆故人
新年好
庆
新春
聚团年
五湖四海
四洋七大洲
年货丰盛累累
五代共聚一祠堂
芍药和鸡公花争艳
银柳剑兰大黄菊相配
爆竹在村头铺成红地毯
孩童的笑声预告兔年幸福
Happy New Year
Celebrating
New Year
Family reunion time
Coming from all sides
Four oceans and seven continents
With abundant gifts, goods and supplies
Five generations gather in one ancestral hall
Peonies and crested cock’s combs compete for beauty
Silver willow, gladiolus and chrysanthemum bundled in perfect bouquets
Firecrakers paper roll a red carpet through the village entrance
Children’s laughter heralds happiness in the coming year of the rabbit
Notes: This poem is written in incremental characters/words each line. The chinese characters illustrate a better shape due to the square form of each character.
Flicker of Thoughts 