Nian Nu Jiao Poem of Red Cliffs 念奴娇 赤壁怀古

Nian Nu Jiao (Poem of Red Cliffs)
By Poet Mr. Su Shi / Su Dong Po (Song Dynasty)

Oh Great River to the east she flowed.
Her billows cleansed and washed off
Thousands generations and romantic figures.
The ancient ramparts set upon her west bank,
Claimed the monument of Red Cliffs,
Were once built by Zhou Yu of Three Kingdoms.

Massive stony peaks pierced into the sky,
Quaking waves splashing upon her shore,
Spilled thousand piles of snow.
River and mountains as a painted landscape,
Within it, how many heroes were once lived!

I try to imagine the time of Zhou Yu,
When Ms. Xiao Qiao just married him,
How handsome and prestigious he was!
But in between the feather fan and silk ribbon,
Through the laughter and leisured chat,
All mighty foes were swept away
And dispersed like dust and smoke.

The old kingdoms in its spirit I journeyed,
Thru my infatuation, that only grew me gray hair.
Life as dream! I shall toast a libation
To the river and her moon.

Note:

‘the feather fan and silk ribbon, Through the laughter and leisured chat’ – indicates Mr. Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei’s advisor. (more info. Search Wikipedia.org)

Chinese:

念奴娇 赤壁怀古
苏轼

大江东去，浪淘尽、千古风流人物。
故垒西边人道是，三国周郎赤壁。

乱石穿空，惊涛拍岸，卷起千堆雪。
江山如画，一时多少豪杰!

遥想公谨当年，小乔初嫁了，雄姿英发。
羽扇纶巾谈笑间，强虏灰飞烟灭。

故国神游，多情应笑，我早生华发。
人生如梦，一尊还酹江月。

Ta Sha Xing 踏莎行 -Qin Guan

Ta Sha Xing(踏莎行)-Qin Guan
Song Dynasty Poet: Qin Guan (1049-1100)

The chamber disappeared into the fog;
Moon was lost above the crossed ferry.
Toward the Peach Garden in the lost land,
I desperately searched her access road.
What a lonely chamber, shut and closed,
In the early spring, still enduring the cold.
Only the song of cuckoo accompanied us
Till the sun declined, another evening call.

The plum flower for the postman to send;
Silk letter in the carps’ mouth that delivered.
Pile of my thoughts stacked on myself
Are just endless sorrows, I cannot shake off.
The river Cheng liberally flowed in joy and bliss,
Circling the mountain of her same surname.
But for whom she must turn, and flow away,
To Xiao Xiang river, that a different name?

Note:
The Peach Garden: In Chinese Literature, it means a hidden garden of peace and joy in world.


踏莎行
秦观
　
雾失楼台
月迷津渡
桃源望断无寻处
可堪孤馆闭春寒
杜鹃声里斜阳暮

驿寄梅花
鱼传尺素
砌成此恨无重数
郴江幸自绕郴山
为谁流下潇湘去

Que Qiao Xian 鹊桥仙 - Qin Guan

Que Qiao Xian Fairy On The Magpie Bridge
Song Dynasty Poet: Qin Guan (1049-1100)

Mending clouds playing thoughts,
Crossing stars messaging griefs,
Through the dark vast Milky Way
we came across from far away.

Our meeting as morning dew in autumn winds,
But it surpassed all common reunions on earth.

Tenderly our feelings streaming flow,
And a good date in our dreams glow,
How can I turn away from the magpie bridge
to the returning road?

If the love of two forever lasts,
Then does it matter
that we can't abide days and nights?

Note:

Poem for Qi Xi Festival aka Cowherd and Vega

Chinese:

鹊桥仙
秦观
　　
织云弄巧，
飞星传恨，
银汉迢迢暗度。

金风玉露一相逢，
便胜却、人间无数。

柔情似水，
佳期如梦，
忍顾鹊桥归路。

两情若是久长时，
又岂在、朝朝暮暮?

Huan Xi Sha 浣溪沙 - Qin Guan

Huan Xi Sha 浣溪沙 (Lyrical Poem)
By Song Dynasty Poet: Mr. Qin Quan (1049-1100)

Through the chilling misty fog
I stepped up to the upper chamber,
The annoying cloudy morning
Led to my feeling of late autumn,
Scarce smoke and flowing stream
Painted the screen a secluded picture.
In liberty the petal flying and falling softly
As the scene I'd seen in my dream,
Endless and tiny dewy drops of rain
Dripping ceaselessly as my sorrow,
My precious bed curtain were not in use,
And hanging on the small silver hooks.

Note:
Poet never mentioned the lady he missed,
But he uses terms of ‘upper chamber’,
‘Bed curtain not in use’ and ‘hung by silver hook’
To reveal that someone he misses dearly.

Chinese:

浣溪沙
秦观

漠漠轻寒上小楼，
晓阴无赖似穷秋。
淡烟流水画屏幽。
自在飞花轻似梦，
无边丝雨细如愁。
宝帘闲挂小银钩。

Man Ting Fang 满庭芳 - Qin Guan

Man Ting Fang Lyrical Poem
By Song Dynasty Poet. Mr. Qin Guan (1049-1100)

Scarce clouds were painted on mountain peaks,
Blue sky joined withered grasslands,
A solo horn sang erratically on the drum tower.
We stopped rolling the oar,
And lifted up the cups for farewell toast.
How sweet our old acquaintance in Peng Lai chamber
Dispersed in misty smoke as we looked back.
Faraway, declining sun,
Thousands insensible crows circling,
And a single stream flowing surrounded a lonesome village.

Such time and scene, melted spirits and dispelled a soul;
The fragrance purse silently untied,
The silk waist belt kindly removed.
Only I won an ungrateful name from girls’ chamber.
After leaving, when we shall meet again?
On our sleeves, grief tears often marked.
Oh, painful feeling grew,
Extended to where the high city wall breaks,
Lights of fire drew in the evenfall.

Chinese:

满庭芳

【宋】秦观

山抹微云，天粘衰草，画声断谯门。
暂停征棹，聊共引离尊。
多少蓬莱旧事，空回首、烟霭纷纷。
斜阳外，寒鸦万点，流水绕孤村。

消魂，当此际，香囊暗解，罗带轻分。
漫赢得青楼，薄幸名存。
此去何时见也？襟袖上、空惹啼痕。
伤情处，高城望断，灯火已黄昏。

Poem of Petőfi Sándor

Liberty, love!
These two I need.
For my love I will sacrifice life,
for liberty I will sacrifice my love.

The greatest revolutionary poem that speaks many people in world, especially in China, there were several versions translated since 1920s, that the country experienced revolutionary war, civil war, world war II, then civil war again.

1920 version 徐祖华译:
生命诚可贵,
爱情价更高,
若为自由故,
两者皆可抛!

Poet Petőfi Sándor died at age of 26 (1823-1849) in the war. At such young age, he should live a life of sweet marriage in a peaceful home, and chase a life career of his dream, but for his belief he gave up these to fight for the freedom of people. And this poem was composed at war time, that the poet had no choice but to put down his own life and love to fight for freedom.

刘垒钟新译:

生命是可爱的,
爱情却更昂贵,
但若为了自由,
我将两者皆抛!

或:

自由!还有那爱情!
这两者皆我所要.
若为了我的爱情,
我愿奉献上生命;
但若是为了自由,
我愿将爱情祭上!

这样的诗人你怎能不爱?
在他冲入战火之前, 给你大声朗读一首这样的诗歌.
哎!
他抛弃了儿女情肠,
忘记了生命与自我,
用那热血谱写理想,
让自由高声的歌唱~
青春年少二十有六,
一夜炮声才子夭亡,
硝烟朦朦, 黑夜茫茫,
唯有那不尽的歌声
至今还在不断的唱:-)

山高高兮, 吾命巍巍,
水流流兮, 吾心青青,
风来去兮, 吾志自由,
归去来兮, 吾歌永唱.

02.02.2008 劉壘鐘