Laijon Liu

Sirens with Soothing Voice and Resting Melody

2012-01-28T01:51:00.001-05:00

Sirens with Soothing Voice and Resting Melody

I love music and songs. I especially love soothing female vocal sings a resting melody and poetic lyric that reminds me the story in Homer’s Odyssey, Sirens (Fairies) singing on the island that lures sailors jump into the ocean. And during my years of sailing I collected some songs that I love and listen everyday, these fairies some compose and some interpret, I really do love their talent and feel very blessed that they allow me immerse into their feeling and passion when I feel sad and lonely. I bet there are so many great singers and songs I have not heard, but I must put down a list that I know for showing my gratitude. (These songs can all be googled, found on youtube and purchased from Amazon, also some very famous songs like silent night and Ave Maria… are fit to my standard but not included in the list)

Kelly Sweet – Dream On

Sinéad O'Connor - House of the Rising Sun

Sinéad O'Connor – A Perfect Indian

Hayley Westenra – Prayer

Jewel – Raven

Eliza Lumley - Sweet Child O' Mine

Sissel - Hallowed Mountains

Susan Boyle – Wild Horses

Grace Griffith - Shape Of My Heart

Sarah Mclachlan – Angel

Sarah Brightman – Dust In The Wind

Sarah Brightman – Scarbro Fair

Nana Mouskouri – Time In A Bottle

Nana Mouskouri – Besame Mucho (Tip from my friend)

Nana Mouskouri - La Palomar (Tip from mi friend)

Eva Cassidy – Fields of Gold

Eva Cassidy – Imagine

Eva Cassidy – Ain't No Sunshine

Eva Cassidy – True Colors

Eva Cassidy – Wayfaring Stranger (Album: Simply Eva)

Eva Cassidy – Bridge Over Troubled Water

Eva Cassidy – Yesterday

Eva Cassidy – Time After Time

Eva Cassidy – Kathy’s Song

Sarah Niemietz – Stand By Me

Christy Baron - Ain't No Sunshine

Amy Hanaialii - Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

Mary Duff - Take Me Home Country Roads

Sarah K. - What's a Little More Rain?

Emi Fujita - Unchained Melody

Emi Fujita – Tears in Heaven

Selah – All My Tears (Be Washed Away)

Selah – Bless The Broken Road

Julie London - Cry Me A River

Melody Gardot – Who Will Comfort Me

Melody Gardot – Your Heart Is As Black As Night

Suzzane Thomas – Rain and Snow

Joan Baez - Diamonds & Rust

Norah Jones - Come Rain Or Come Shine

Norah Jones – Jolene (Live Cover on youtube)

Imelda May – Knock 123

Taylor Swift – Drops of Jupiter

Susan Wong – Sound of Silence

Chinese Sirens with Soothing Voice and Resting Melody

There are also some Chinese folk and poetry singers that are equal to the above English Singing Sirens. So the following list of a few songs for people who lust some good vocal. My choice of standard is, soothing voice, good melody, and poetic lyric. No propaganda song.

童丽 (Tong Li)

Tong Li – Watch the Spring Wind link

Tong Li – Ten Sighs link

Tong Li – Night Sky link

Tong Li – Bury Flower Song link

Tong Li – TianZhu Girl link

Tong Li – Dream of River South link

Tong Li – Your Glance link

劉紫玲 (Liu ZiLing)

Liu ZiLing - Canary Tree link

Liu ZiLing - Shepherd’s Song link

Liu ZiLing – Medley:女人花_你怎麼舍得我難過_明天你是否依然愛我 link

邓丽君 (Teresa Deng)

Teresa Deng - 几多愁 link

徐雯 (Xu Wen)

Xu Wen – Parting Also Difficult link

蔡琴 (Tsai Qing)

出塞曲 link

任月丽 (Ren Yue Li)

Angel’s Wings link

Ode to Homeless

2012-01-20T08:07:00.005-05:00

Ode to Homeless
By Laijon Liu 20120120

O1
O tell God, Who is the bravest among men?
A wayfaring stranger despised by passerby
Men and stock are born in house and stable
But he’s resurrected after his roof collapse
Family and friends so all become strangers
Streets and parks suddenly turn to badlands
Winter freezing winds blow his heart cold
Sizzling summer heat burns up his thirst
O2
Where he should go? Jordan? A Shelter?
Would he find his father and mother there?
Crowd faces, his usual sitting spot, all new
Only his old past is lost and he can’t forget
In rainy night, the sky spits on his head
In sunny day, he begs every stone face
To be himself, he must practice give up
Let the world win, watching people pass
O3
Sitting in a corner he bows his head
Like a convict receiving his trial in court
His crime is that he lost his job and home
out of love and hope, no money to pay his debt
He is drowned in Vodka, his stomach like a sea
A non-stop smoker, cigarette can’t kill
He refuse to quit, coz he’s never addicted
Only drink and smoke soothe his sense
O4
Time and silence are his sentence
In this wall-less jail he tries to join our society
No name or inmate number required
And he’s liberal to roam anywhere
Life is a journey, but he can’t find rest
Living is a match; he’s preset to lose
Mountains and rivers test his lonely faith
Bar light and catering noise tempt his appetite
O5
He is a traveling monk, a living Buddha
Hunger and thirst are his meditation
Thru deaf ears and rejections he observes Zen
At the marketplace he lives out a hermit life
Shaking his coin cup, he offers a sincere prayer
Facing apathetic crowd he puts on Golden Globe act
No, he doesn’t want to be rich and famous
His paperboard says [Money for food n drink]
O6
Dress is his identity, so he picked original brand
Thru rains and winds he endures his natural scent
Shower and soup cannot match the fresh breeze
Sympathy and acceptance are not triggered by sense
Seasons pass, he experiences warmth and cold
On his pilgrim road there’s no sickness, toil or danger
People immigrate, mammals and birds migrate
Yet, wherever he goes, he can’t find a satisfied habitat
O7
Oh, where is his house for his lonely unrest soul?
In his ransacked temple he silently sits and recalls
Childhood nightmares and long lost wife and love
His failure, promise and his glory white bubble days
Good life like a rushing train in dream crashed in past
Typhoon, earthquake, battle cries and his child’s face
Like a rolling avalanche lands on his wrinkled forehead
He was too slow to react, nothing he could do to survive
O8
His hands were broken and his heart pierced
Yet, he was reborn after his house vanished
He saw a life after death and his wound never healed
On the crossroad he begs for money and pity
He doesn’t have a name; he could be you and me
And in the people crowded cities
He receives God’s enlightenment
To try to adapt and fall asleep on this strange golden field

Thought on the Beach

2012-01-10T21:26:00.001-05:00

Thought on the Beach

By Ms. Jane Yang 2012.01.08

Blue sky

Is a virtuous lad

Waves of warm breeze

Is he that chasing after a fair goddess

Offered bloom

Red like burning flame

May the lovers in world

Hold hand and forever

It’s rare to meet a poet on street; it’s rare a poet meets another poet in public or business place. I just found out my dentist is a poet, and how? Because she saw me reading a poetry book on her patient bed, and after she cleaned my teeth she wrote down two short poems for me. And I was so glad. So I hereby typed her Chinese poem and translated it to just mark down this happy and rare experience.

沙滩随想（一）

杨健

蓝天

是干干净净的少年

阵阵和风

是他在追逐美丽的天仙

奉上的花朵

红过燃烧的火焰

祝福天下有情的人儿

牵手万年

My Favorite Xmas Albums

2011-12-08T20:36:00.010-05:00

Christmas Jazz Jam by Mr. Wynton Marsalis

verve presents: the very best of Christmas Jazz

God Rest Ye Merry Jazzmen by Vary Jazz Artists

Christmas from the Blue Note

Now That's What I Call Christmas Disc 1 Only

Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas

Christmas Peace by Mr. Elvis Presley

Christmas Songs by Ms. Diana Krall

Selah Rose of Bethlehem

Christmas by .38 Special & Lynyrd Skynyrd

Beer and Condom

2011-10-03T21:23:00.018-04:00

I always had an urge of a photo shot of two common but very poetic things in one frame. Beer and condom. And a few years ago I shot one, a beer bottle and a condom on a blank white sheet.

But recently I just decide to use my bed as a platform to retake the photo, the white stuff on the bed sheet is the toothpaste foam that I spill there for mimic of you know what it should be.

Beer and Condom says a lot thing about my feeling of social activity of my generation, especially me, that doesn't mean I get laid regularly, in reality, I'm conceptually a still virgin, if self-sanctification does not technically count as sex, but beer I do drown in it. Seeing my life floating in this foaming surge for years, pulled by the current as my surrounding guides, and the natural desire within me endlessly rolling, yet in this uncertain realm how can one ever get on the shore? It's much easier for one person to hold onto the empty beer barrel and drift, if another person somehow grabs it firmly, then they would probably sink to bottom together. (how lucky are they maybe) But alone still a Yes. so many sleepless nights, and every morning it's an one-man battle to get up.... I believe there are many people stuck in this world. So here, this concept picture I shot would probably speak to them and also inspire them maybe. (Oh, the wet mark on the bed sheet is the beer spill, I cut up a plastic bag and put under the sheet, and then spill some beer and toothpaste. So I don't sleep like a pig.)

Beer and Condom

by Laijon Liu 20111003

I don't know where my life gonna float,

I can't predict my fate and road,

For any hope of prospect I dare not to dream,

but at least I've got now, at least we've got now.

Don't worry about world or politics,

Don't plan for a house or electric cars,

Debt can never bind those simple joys,

Let's go out, pop a beer and condom.

For anyone who doesn't understand why I shot above photos in a setting of bed and stacks of books, I wrote a following ekphrastic poem to explain:

Billions of sperms, billions of seeds

all drown and swim in beer foam

there they should never be

Joy in the bottle, love misses its mark

on this bed of uncertainty

who would dare to dream?

books for wisdom, fool's paradise

just like the intoxicated world

only a sober eye sees

Chinese:

啤酒和避孕套

我不知道我会往哪儿漂流

我不能预测出命运和前路

对于未来的展望我不敢去梦想

但是我拥有现在，我们却都有现在

别去为着世界和政治操心

别去为着房价和机车计划

债务永不能捆绑那些简单的乐趣

咱们出去，开瓶啤酒和避孕套

Stormy Sky, Chinatown NY

2011-10-01T17:18:00.007-04:00

Thursday afternoon I came back to Chinatown from our customer, and got off the subway, the sky was stormy and beautiful. Usually I hate rainy days, especially when morning drizzling and gloomy, I would sit up and turn off the alarm clock and say "damn! raining again?!" and lie down sleep a couple hours longer, officially have good reason to be late, of course I say "I am not late by hours, but my life is late by years and ages" if my boss kindly asks me "Headache again?" But I think there is something good and beautiful when it's raining. look.

I should silently come and gently leave

2011-09-26T23:58:00.001-04:00

I should silently come and gently leave

By Laijon Liu 20110926

I should silently come

and gently leave

In this mirage world of neon lights

I should kindly hum

and softly step

Like a raindrop and a falling leaf

Life should not be

like rolling wave or thunder beam

where my heart

won’t find its peace

I should silently come

and gently leave

On this riverbank of rippling stream

Leisurely I roam

and pleasure I lay

like spring breeze or autumn ray

World should not be

like rumbling train or glittering peak

and there my mind

never finds rest

I should silently come

and gently leave

like a cottage in the woods

like a set of footprints

buried in snowflake

Three T-Shirts:)

2011-09-17T13:13:00.005-04:00

I Am the Bitterness (Inspired by Flower Sermon and Christian View)

2011-08-16T01:46:00.005-04:00

I Am the Bitterness (Inspired by Flower Sermon and Christian View)

By Laijon Liu 20110816

No poet can write bitter poem, but I

No poem is bitterer than I am

I, am the bitterness

The saddened eyes behind a veil

A trembling bloom on Buddha’s palm

And his elapsing painful smile

Note:

In bitterness, we share same smile on life subject.

Chinese:

我是痛苦

没有诗人可以写出痛苦，只有我

没有诗比我还痛苦

我，就是痛苦

那面纱后悲伤的双瞳

佛祖掌上那颤抖张开的花朵

和他嘴角上那丝悲苦的微笑

Three Poems about “Tiger in Cage”

2011-08-07T16:17:00.000-04:00

Three Poems about “Tiger in Cage”

[poem 1]

Iron Bars and Fire

By Zeng Zhuo, written 1946

Translated by Pang Bingjun, John Minford & Sean Golden

The tiger paces his cage.

In his cramped cage,

Silently he paces

Quietly growls

Ignoring the jeers, the alms outside.

Weary, he lies behind the bars

A mass of blazing stripes,

A ball of fire!

He stands

eyes burning

fangs bared

tensed to pounce

shriek of terror from beyond the cage!

Lowering his snout, he takes in

a deep breath of the wilderness scent

That still lingers on his coat

Reminds him

Mountains, forest, valley….

Years of freedom and dignity.

Late in the night

He paws the bar;

A longdrawn roar of rage and grief

Scatters the night air

Dies in the darkness

Like lightning flash!

Iron bars

Locked up fire!

---

[poem 2]

Tiger

By Niu Han, Written June 1973

Translated by Pang Bingjun, John Minford & Sean Golden

In Guilin

In a small zoo

I saw a tiger.

Pressed in crowd,

Outside two rows of iron bars,

I peered at the tiger in his cage

For a long long time.

But could see nothing

Of his brindled face

And flaming eyes.

The tiger in his cage

Turned from the cowardly, hopeless crowd,

Lay calmly stretched in a corner.

They pelted him with stones,

They goaded him with cries,

They coaxed and lured him,

But he ignored them all,

Slowly flailing the floor

With his long rough tail.

Tiger, o, caged tiger!

Are you dreaming the west mountain forest?

Is your stout heart twitching with shame?

Or are you thinking of lashing

The sad, laughable crowd

With your long whip tail?

Your sinewy legs

Are stiffly splayed.

Each broken claw

Blood encrusted.

Were they wrenched out

As you lay trussed and bound?

Or, did you yourself

Out of wrath and despair,

Crushed them with your splintered, bleeding teeth?

On the grey cement wall

Beside the cage,

Runnels of blood

Blasted my eyes like a forked lightning.

Finally, I understood…

Leaving the zoo in shame

I seem to hear a sound

An earth shattering roar-

A soul unbound

Had roared above my head

I saw the fiery stipes.

I saw the flaming eyes!

---

[poem 3]

A Tiger in a Cage

By Laijon Liu 20090611

A tiger in a cage

A crown taken away

In forest he’s a king

But here he falls into Cat category

Children adore him all day

Dogs bark at him

Behind bars he laps his paws

Invincible daggers he’ll never use

What kind of beast

Waits for people to feed?

Isn’t he a sun-god?

Plays a devil role at night?

Beautiful camouflage coat

Should be an art of mystery

But now he can’t find a bush

To show off his magic mark

A pair sad and big eye

Golden and mild

No light of hope

Shining no pride, nor wild

Ah, he is a tiger

But caged behind bars

A god of mountain

Became a wooden idol

Note:

Society is a jail that locks our spirit and breaks down our will. I often feel I should accomplish more with whatever I have, but often feel that I’m unable to do. There is a greater force that shut all the doors right in front of me, till one day I stop hitting my head against walls, and I would walk by its side back and forth, couldn’t give up, and one day I might eventually become that brother tiger I met at the zoo years ago, that he stopped looking at the visitors, stopped walking by the bars to hope a miracle gate to be opened, just laying there half-sleep all day, given up dreaming the green forest, high mount top, deep valley, living springs, and never cared if he was alive or dead, or hungry or lack of mate or sex. He should have his kingdom and title, his deity and honor. I shed tears for him, sometimes I only pity him that he did not deserve such treatment, he was not human, he only took what he needed, but even so strong like him still could not break away from the bars we made, all of his identity stripped away, and such life even worst than death. There is a Chinese saying: “Rather live a day of tiger, should not suffer for hundred years like a sheep.” But in our zoo, no one can break loose, not even terrible beasts, maybe only Jesus. And a few prophets and suicidal poets? I doubt. They simply lived a short life in our zoo. Just an opinion

Note about the 3 tiger in cage poems:

There are maybe more Tiger in Cage poems, but I wonder how my poem [A Tiger in a Cage] shares same view with other two Modern Chinese poets. I never read their tiger poems before I wrote mine, and I don’t believe the poet Niu Han read [Iron Bars and Fire] before composing his Tiger, yet 3 poems are inspired by one theme, shared same view, but holds different character.

[Iron bars and Fire] written in 1946, China in civil war, the tiger ready to break out of the cage anytime.

[Tiger] by Niu Han, written in 1974, China just finished culture revolution, the tiger is tormented and yet still in strive.

But my poem I wrote in 2009, when I was so depressed, that feeling reminded me a tiger I saw when I was a kid, that tiger totally lost his identity and became a toy.

Ode to Lotus

2011-08-03T00:06:00.008-04:00

Ode to Lotus

By Zhou Dunyi (1017-1073 Song Dynasty)

Translated by Laijon Liu 20110803

Flowers upon our earth, many kinds we do like.

Tao Chien of Jing, loves chrysanthemum alone,

And after Tang Dynasty, the world adores peony,

But I am a person that admires a lotus in pond.

For it comes out of the mire earth, yet not defiled,

And cleansed by the pure ripples, but never flirty;

Humbleness fills its stem, and upright toward sky;

It’s never entangled, never branched to the side;

Its fragrance spreads far, yet its pureness does not fade,

Straight, lofty and clean, stands such character of its kind,

That world can only behold it afar, yet never tamper it.

I believe, chrysanthemum is a hermit among flowers,

And peony, it ranks as the rich and noble plant,

But lotus is a gentleman among the bloom kind.

Ah! There’re only a few people love chrysanthemum,

And are there anyone admires lotus nowadays?

No. Most of all people in the world admire peony!

Note:

When I was teen, I read this prose and loved it, here translated it for people to share.

Chinese:

爱莲说

周敦颐(1017-1073)

水陆草木之花，可爱者甚蕃：晋陶渊明独爱菊，

自李唐来，世人盛爱牡丹。予独爱莲之出淤泥而不染

，濯清涟而不妖；中通外直，不蔓不枝；香远益清，

亭亭净植，可远观而不可亵玩焉。

予谓：菊，花之隐逸者也；牡丹，花之富贵者也

；莲，花之君子者也。噫！菊之爱，陶后鲜有闻。莲

之爱，同予者何人？牡丹之爱，宜乎众矣！

Two New Translate

2011-07-28T21:57:00.002-04:00

Death Poem

Tang Yin (Ming Dynasty)

Life in this world meets departure

And die we will return to the abyss

The world and the abyss are all alike

A lonely soul drifts in a foreign land

绝笔诗

唐寅（明）

生在阳间有散场，

死归地府又何妨。

地府阳间俱相似，

只当漂泊在异乡。

---

Cross River

Wen Dian (Qing Dynasty)

Green hills like old friends,

River flows like sweet wine.

Today we meet here again,

Let us toast my good friend.

渡江

文点（清）

青山如故人，

江水似美酒。

今日重相逢，

把酒对良友。

Poetry Web Links

2011-07-21T20:37:00.000-04:00

英国总领事馆对英国当代诗人的介绍，诗歌在英国还是很受重视。

英国当代诗歌

作者: JONATHAN BARKER

第一部分: 诗歌简介: 第1页

第二部分: 当代诗人简介: 第5页

第三部分: 诗歌资源: 第12页

第一部分: 诗歌简介

1 多样性

1.1作为一种艺术形式，诗歌在英伦三岛不断蓬勃发展。诗歌可以一种当地语言或是国家语言。英国由四个国家组成：英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰。因此我们拥有四种身份和四类诗歌。但这四种身份并非一成不变或融汇为一体的；相反，他们可以变得很复杂。正如卫报的记者Nick Laird谈到，北爱尔兰的诗人约翰·休伊特(John Hewitt)是这样定义他自己的，“我是一个阿尔斯特（北爱尔兰地名）人，来自Planter stock。我出生于爱尔兰岛，因此我的次身份是爱尔兰人。我又出生于不列颠群岛，英语是我的母语，所以我是英国人。不列颠群岛由众多岛屿组成，其中包括一些与欧洲大陆相连的沿海岛屿，因此我也是欧洲人。上述是我的价值架构。因此就我而言，忽略了这一价值层次和顺序中的任何组成部分，就无法弄清真实的状况 ”。这类多样性其实是英国当代诗歌的优势之一。诗歌中没有所谓的名门正派。许多来自其他地区的诗人都选择留在英国：芙拉·阿德寇克（Fleur Adcock）来自新西兰，是我们最尊敬的诗人之一。已故诗人彼得·波特(Peter Porter)生于澳大利亚，但人们总将他当作一名英国诗人。杰基·凯(Jacky Kay)在格拉斯哥由养父母抚养成人，她的生父是尼日利亚的伊博人，而她的生母则来自苏格兰高地。对于很多作家而言，拥有多重身份的多样性能够丰富他们的作品。

1.1.1 英格兰在组成英国的四个国家中，英格兰拥有最大的陆地面积。在我看来，英格兰没有一个统一的身份。相反，众多强烈的地方特色代表了风格迥异的英格兰。英格兰拥有为数众多的著名诗人，其中包括安东尼·斯韦（Anthony Thwaite）、艾伦·布朗约翰（Alan Brownjohn）、约翰·富勒（John Fuller）、杰弗里·希尔（Geoffrey Hill）、查尔斯·汤姆林森（Charles Tomlinson）、雨果·威廉姆斯（Hugo Williams）、彼得·雷丁（Peter Reading）、西门·阿米蒂奇（Simon Armitage）以及托尼·哈里森（Tony Harrison）。同时，还有很多引人注目的新生代诗人。他们之中大多为报刊杂志写诗，还有些为戏剧表演作诗。当代英国人在文化和种族领域的多样性为我们的诗歌带来了新的韵律和理念。

1.1.2 北爱尔兰孕育了很多极具天赋的诗人。大卫·科恩文学奖得主德里克·马洪(Derek Mahon)和迈克尔·朗利（Michael Longley）都是天赋异禀的诗人。保罗·马尔登(Paul Muldoon)属于稍年轻的一代，是最具影响力和创造力的当代诗人代表之一。他的模仿者层出不穷。正如马尔登，夏兰·卡森（Ciaran Carson）是一名杰出的语言演奏家，他能用其超常的热忱写出感情细腻的韵诗。荣获诺贝尔奖的谢默·斯希尼（Seamus Heaney）住在都柏林。他是如此地支持爱尔兰共和国，以致在外出做活动时与选择与爱尔兰的文化机构，而非英国文化协会与其同行。北爱尔兰著名的出版社是Blackstaff Press。

1.1.3 苏格兰的诗人也是层出不穷。爱丁堡文学奖得主罗恩·巴特林(Ron Butlin)拥有爱丁堡桂冠诗人的美称；利兹·洛赫黑德（Liz Lochhead）最近也被授予了苏格兰桂冠诗人的称号；两度荣获艾略特文学奖的唐·帕特森(Don Paterson)由TS 艾略特的遗孀为其颁奖；凯瑟琳·杰米(Kathleen Jamie)是一名游历四方的诗人；约翰·伯恩赛德（John Burnside）是苏格兰最多产的诗人之一，同时也是获奖小说和众多回忆录的作家；罗迪·拉姆斯登(Roddy Lumsden)拥有诗人和诗歌活动组织者的双重身份；罗宾·罗伯逊（Robin Robertson）荣获了英国年度诗歌大奖——进步诗歌奖。苏格兰Canongate有一家著名的出版社。

1.1.4 威尔士涌现了极具天赋的诗人包括：丹妮·阿贝斯（Dannie Abse），博士以及威尔士英语诗人的老前辈；吉莉安•克拉克（Gillian Clarke），威尔士的民族诗人；托尼·柯蒂斯（Tony Curtis），诗人兼诗歌评论家；斯蒂芬·奈特（ Stephen Knight），诗人兼小说家；格尼丝·刘易斯（Gwyneth Lewis），诗人、小说家、歌词作家以及旅行家；还有欧·文希尔斯（Owen Sheers），诗人兼小说家。值得一提的是罗文·威廉姆斯博士（Rowan Williams），他是坎特伯雷大主教、威尔士人，同时也是一名诗人，他对当代诗歌的公开评论是极有见地和全面的。威尔士诗歌界的知名出版社为Seren Press。

2 诗歌翻译值得注意的是，我们诗歌的历史传统是开放的，从其他地方汲取了不同的诗歌类型：例如，在伊丽莎白时代引入意大利式的三行诗隔句押韵法、十四行诗以及十九行两韵体诗（源自法国）。一百年来，我们从不同的传统引入了大量的翻译/改编/版本的诗歌。在每一次的翻译浪潮中我们均丰富了自己的诗歌内涵。在十九世纪二十年代，由阿瑟·韦利（Arthur Waley）和以斯拉·庞德(Ezra Pound )翻译的中国唐诗为英语带来了崭新的风格、韵律和简单之美。在整个二十世纪，我们读到了从欧洲和其他国家语言翻译而来的许多作品，其中很多绝佳的翻译都出自诗人本人，而这样的例子数不胜数：由查尔斯·汤姆林森（Charles Tomlinson）翻译的秘鲁著名诗人塞萨尔·瓦列霍（Cesar Vallejo）的作品；由迈克尔·汉堡格(Michael Hamburger)翻译的两位德国诗人保罗·策兰（Paul Celan）和弗里德里希·荷尔德林（ Friedrich Holderlin）的佳作；由唐•帕特森(Don Paterson)翻译的西班牙诗人安东尼·奥马查多（Antonio Machado）和雷诺·玛丽亚·里尔克（Rainer Maria Rilke）的诗作；由泰德·休斯（Ted Hughes）带来的拉丁诗人奥维德（Ovid）的作品，以及谢默斯·希尼（Seamus Heaney）翻译的盎格鲁撒克逊人贝奥武甫（Beowulf）的早期史诗巨作。除此之外，由托尼·哈里森（Tony Harrison）带来的15世纪约克悬疑戏剧的现代译本成功将戏剧从纯学术拯救出来，在重新编排后用当代的语言介绍给当代戏剧观众。

3 桂冠诗人称号史上首位桂冠诗人是与莎士比亚同一时代的诗人本·琼森（Ben Jonson）。许多著名诗人都曾被授予该称号，其中包括威廉·华兹华斯（William Wordsworth）、艾尔弗雷德·丁尼生（Alfred Tennyson）、C·戴·刘易斯（C Day Lewis）以及泰德·休斯（Ted Hughes）。该称号可以赚到的钱很少，但是依照传统却可以获得一定量的雪利酒。安德鲁·莫逊是上一任的桂冠诗人。09年5月桂冠诗人的称号第一次被授予了一位女性：卡罗尔·安·达菲(Carol Ann Duffy)。按理桂冠诗人属于英国皇室的成员之一。但实际上，它只是一个荣誉称号。桂冠诗人可以按照自己的意愿创作，为公众场合以及报纸发表而创作的诗歌除外。其他地方开始效仿桂冠诗人的机制。在美国总统奥巴马的就职典礼上诗人伊丽莎白·亚历山大（Elizabeth Alexander）朗诵了委托桂冠诗人完成的诗：《当日赞歌》(Praise Song for a Day)。

4 牛津大学诗歌教授历史上，马修·阿诺德（Matthew Arnold）、罗伯特·格雷夫斯（Robert Graves）、奥登(W H Auden)以及保罗·马尔登（Paul Muldoon）都曾担任该职。最近，新闻中报道了诺贝尔奖得主德里克·沃尔科特（Derek Walcott）撤销他的提名，以及露丝·帕德尔（Ruth Padel ）先是欲被委任但最后辞职。现任的牛津大学诗歌教授是杰弗里·希尔（Geoffrey Hill）。大家普遍认为他是我们这一时代最重要的诗人。

5 诗歌主题诗歌的主题纷繁复杂。我将会将重点放某些主题上。将诗歌与环境相结合是一个比较新的发展趋势。近年来，有一批女诗人开始用崭新的方式表达生态问题，其中包括：爱丽丝·奥斯瓦尔德（Alice Oswald）、媚兰·查兰杰（Melanie Challenger）以及珍··海德菲尔德（Jen Hadfield）。爱丽丝·奥斯瓦尔德（ Alice Oswald）是我们最具原创性的诗人之一。在她的书《Weeds and Wild Flowers》中谈到，鲜花实际上是我们在别处的表象。该书荣获了由英国诗歌协会管理的泰德·休斯诗歌奖。奥斯瓦尔德谈到，“阅读诗歌享受的是一种稍微不安的快乐，像是夜深人静在花园里散步时，所有的植物都来到他们名字的边上，然后超越它们自己。”受到瑞切尔·卡森的研讨会汇编《Slient Spring》的触动（该书谈到在上世纪六十年代，因为高毒农药的滥用而导致众多鸟类的中毒），在2004年，约翰·伯恩赛德（John Burnside）和莫里斯·里奥丹（ Maurice Riordan）编辑了名为《wide Reckoning》的诗歌选集，该选集的影响颇为深远。同时，我们还考到很多主题类的书籍，其中包括：露丝·帕德尔(Ruth Padel) 曾经写过一首名为《Darwin: A Life in Poems》的诗，该诗作关于达尔文生平，其长度就像一本书一样；米克·伊姆拉（Mick Imlah），虽然他已经不幸离世，但他的书《The Lost Leaders》确流传甚广，用诗歌的形式讲述了苏格兰的历史。

6 出版途径

6.1 诗歌杂志

诗歌杂志: 在诗人们结集出版作品前，这是他们发表诗歌的地方。在英国有为数众多的诗歌杂志，而且这类杂志的几乎所有销售都是通过邮局订阅，其中包括：《诗歌评论》（Poetry Review）﹑P N Review﹑《伦敦诗歌》（Poetry London）﹑Stand﹑ Agenda﹑现代诗歌翻译《 Modern Poetry in Translation》、《苏格兰诗歌》（Poetry Scotland）﹑ the Rialto以及《威尔士诗歌》（Poetry Wales）。

6.2 诗歌出版社

英国拥有众多出色的商业诗歌出版社，他们在出版图书时也出版诗歌，其中包括： Faber & Faber﹑Picador﹑Jonathan Cape﹑以及在爱丁堡的Canongate。除此之外，还有其它专业的诗歌出版社，其中的一些还受到艺术委员会的资助。这些出版社包括： Anvil﹑ Arc﹑Bloodaxe﹑Carcanet﹑ Enitharmon﹑ Seren (威尔士) ﹑Blackstaff (北爱尔兰)以及Gallery (爱尔兰). Salt 出版社是一种新的快速新闻出版商，他们出版的书籍在初次印刷时的印量不大，之后会根据需要加印。

6.3 诗歌奖项和比赛

这些是铁定可以获得读者的方式。比赛的胜出者可以在报刊杂志上获得关注。著名的诗歌奖项包括：每年由英国诗歌作品协会管理的T·S艾略特诗歌奖，奖项价值1万5千英镑。该奖项颁发给在过去12个月内出版的一本最出色的书。虽然TS艾略特已于1963年离世，但他的遗孀每年都亲自颁奖给获奖者。此外还有进步诗歌奖。该奖项拥有悠久的历史，其中包括三个奖项：最佳作品集﹑最佳处女作品集以及最佳诗歌。另外，由作家协会管理的埃里克·格雷戈里(Eric Gregory)奖每年被授予三十岁以下的年轻诗人。我们今天的许多知名诗人都曾荣获该奖 ——该奖鼓励了正开始其诗歌职业生涯的诗人继续前进。诗歌竞赛为主办方获得经费，并且帮助大家将目光聚焦在获奖诗人上，其中最著名的比赛包括英国诗歌协会的全国诗歌大赛(National Poetry Competition)和阿尔文（Arvon）基金会的国际诗歌大赛——该两项赛事均为全国性的比赛。

7 诗歌组织

和诗歌有关的组织包括：由英格兰委员会支持的英国诗歌协会，于每年十月举办全国诗歌日活动；诗歌档案(Poetry Archive)是一个独特的网络资源，该网站上有众多诗人录制的诗歌可供读者在线上免费阅读；南岸中心诗歌图书馆位于伦敦南岸的皇家节日音乐厅，内有从1912至今的诗歌收藏，其中包括各种书籍﹑杂志和录音；英国诗歌作品协会是一个专注于诗歌的读书俱乐部，以邮寄的形式向读者介绍众多诗人的作品。可惜的是，由于2012/13年度因英格兰艺术委员会对其拨款的减少，该机构的前景堪忧。

7.1 诗歌节

其它途径包括有很多诗人与散文作家一起出席的各种文学节，其中包括在切尔滕纳姆﹑爱丁堡﹑海伊（位于威尔士）以及曼彻斯特举行的文学节。专业的诗歌节则在以下等地举行：奥尔德堡﹑Stanza以及莱德伯里。除此之外，还有每两年一次在南岸中心举办的诗歌国际艺术节。在这些艺术节上，大量读者花钱听诗人朗诵其作品，以及购买诗歌书籍。T·S艾略特奖的入围者专场诗歌作品协会每年都在伦敦举行，以吸引观众。

7.2 电视及电台

近年来，BBC和第四电视频道举办了诗歌季，其中参访了许多诗人：西蒙·阿米蒂奇对十四世纪的古诗《加文爵士与绿衣骑士》（Sir Gawain and the Green Knight）提出了新的注解；格里夫·里斯·琼斯（Griff Rhys Jones）和欧文·希尔斯（Owen Sheers）将诗歌介绍给新的观众，并帮助扩展喜欢诗歌的人群。BBC第四电台有一个广受欢迎的节目，该节目名为Poetry Now，每周由罗杰·麦戈(Roger McGough)主持。听众可以根据自己的喜好点播诗歌，然后节目中会有很多当代诗人朗诵这些作品。除此之外，BBC第三电台在播出诗歌音乐会的时候，会在其中穿插了一个二十分钟的诗人和诗歌的特别时间。诗人伊恩麦克·米伦(Ian McMilan)也在同一频道主持一个名为“动词”（The Verb）的主流而且知名的现代诗歌节目。该节目介绍了众多知名和未知名的诗人，深受听众欢迎。据卫报2009年6月27日报道，尼尔森BookScan以及The Bookseller调查显示，自BBC电视台和第四电视频道电视的诗歌活动系列在五月播出后，诗歌的销量一路飙升。其中，秀维亚·普拉斯（Sylvia Plath）的销量比之前的六星期激增92%，而T·S 艾略特作品的销量则增长了惊人的222%。

第二部分：当代诗人简介

8 在此我试图介绍当今诗坛中涌现的一些作品。我会将重点放在知名的诗人，但也聚焦于更年轻的一代。对每个诗人我都附上了简洁的介绍，并且提供了能够获得更多信息的网站链接。英国文化协会的当代作家网站在传记、著作数目以及重要信息提供了很大的帮助。同时，我还提供了诗歌档案(Poetry Archive)的相关链接——如果你想听诗人谈论他们的作品，你可以登录这些链接。我认为这些诗人应该可以与在中国相关的翻译很好地配合。同时，他们也可以成功地朗读或表演诗歌。

8.1莫妮扎·阿尔文（Moniza Alvi）出生于巴基斯坦的拉合尔，年纪很小便开始在英国生活。她的诗歌作品曾荣获乔蒙德利（Cholmondeley）奖。她的作品曾入围T·S艾略特奖，并成为诗歌作品协会的诗歌选择之一。

www.moniza.co.uk/

www.contemporarywriters.com

8.2 西蒙·阿米蒂奇(Simon Armitage)是我们最有名的诗人之一，同时也还是小说、非小说、歌剧剧本以及诗集的作者。同时，他还制作了十二出与诗歌有关的电影。除此之外，他还是知名的电台主持人。他的作品赢得了众多奖项，其中包括进步诗歌奖的最佳诗集以及兰南(Lannan)文学奖

www.poetinthecity.co.uk/.

www.simonarmitage.com

www.contemporarywriters.com

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive

8.3 弗兰切斯卡·比尔德（Francesca Beard ）出生于马来西亚，在英国长大。她是我们在诗歌表演方面最熟练的诗人之一。她以微妙的方式与观众交流并表演她的诗歌作品。在教育和主流方面她的表现也是极为出色的。在担任诗歌相关职位时她也是一名成功的诗人。

www.contemporarywriters.com

8.4 约翰·伯恩赛德（John Burnside）是我们最出色的当代苏格兰诗人之一。他同时也是一名小说家以及两本回忆录的作家。他的诗歌备受推崇，描述了现实世界和精神世界。他是苏格兰艺术委员会图书奖、惠布瑞特(Whitbread)诗歌奖以及乔蒙德利奖等多个诗歌奖项获得者。

www.contemporarywriters.com

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive8

8.5 罗恩·巴特林（Ron Butlin）是爱丁堡桂冠诗人，曾三次荣获苏格兰艺术委员会图书奖。同时，他还是一位备受尊敬的诗人、小说家、短篇小说家、歌剧编剧、剧作家、教师、记者以及其作品的朗读者。他的诗歌和散文作品已被翻译成十种语言。.

www.ronbutlin.co.uk/

www.contemporarywriters.com

8.6吉莉安·克拉克（Gillian Clarke）是威尔士的民族诗人。她可能是迄今最出名的用英语写作的威尔士诗人了。最近她与卡罗尔·安·达菲（Carol Ann Duffy）以及简奈·温特森（Jeanette Winterson）一同赢得特德·休斯奖。她的诗歌作品已经赢得了诗歌的最高奖项：英国女王诗歌金奖。她的诗歌在学校中被广泛研读，并被翻译成十种语言。

www.gillianclarke.co.uk/

www.contemporarywriters.com

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive

8.7 温迪·科普（Wendy Cope）是能够拉进知识分子和普通读者之间距离的少数诗人之一。她与诗歌界外的世界联系紧密。她的第一本书至今卖出了180,000本的销量。她的近作名为《Family Values》。她曾赢得乔蒙德利奖和迈克尔·伯傲德（Michael Braude）简明诗作奖。她是一位广受尊敬的诗人，其诗歌作品也同样地机智和深刻。

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/

www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/8404207/A-Page-in-the-Life-Wendy-Cope

www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1022230/Love--Poems-straight-heart-Wendy-Cope

8.8卡罗尔·安·达菲（Carol Ann Duffy）是苏格兰人和爱尔兰人的后裔，为现任桂冠诗人以及首位担任该职位的女性。她曾获奖无数，其中包括惠布瑞特文学奖、T.S艾略特文学奖、进步诗歌奖的最佳诗歌奖、苏格兰艺术委员会图书奖以及毛姆文学奖。她创作有诗歌、戏剧、儿童文学作品，是当代最负盛名的诗人之一。

www.carolannduffy.co.uk/

www.contemporarywriters.com

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/

8.9萨沙·达格代尔(Sasha Dugdale)于2003年获得格雷戈里奖，现已出版了两本畅销的诗歌书籍，而其第三部作品也有望在今年面世。她曾在俄罗斯工作，并且参与发起了俄罗斯皇家宫廷剧院新创作计划。她擅长将俄罗斯的诗歌和戏剧作品译成英文。

www.carcanet.co.uk/

www.londonbookfair.co.uk/page.cfm/action=ConfSpeaker/SpeakerID=288

www.mptmagazine.com/author/sasha-dugdale-4042/

. 8.10海伦·邓莫尔（Helen Dunmore）是英国著名小说家以及英国柑橘文学奖的小说奖得主。她也是一位多产且备受成人和儿童读者所热爱的诗人。她曾获得了艾丽斯亨特巴特莱奖和斯马尔蒂斯儿童读物奖，更与2009年在全国诗歌大赛上成功胜出。她曾在英国和海外的许多地方对自己的作品进行讲学。海伦·邓莫尔还一直担任作家协会主席。

hwww.helendunmore.com/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/

ukraine.poetryinternationalweb.org/piw_cms/cms/cms_module/index.php?obj_id=16583&x=1

8.11伯纳迪恩·埃瓦里斯托（Bernardine Evaristo）是诗歌和散文作家。她母亲是英国人，父亲则是尼日利亚人。她因创作了《拉拉》（Lara）和《皇帝的宝贝》(The Emperor’s Babe)两部作品而声誉鹊起。上述两部煌煌大作以一种极具可读性和原创的方式，针砭了种族和历史问题。她曾荣获英国国家科技艺术基金会奖和英国艺术理事会作家奖。伯纳迪恩是一位经验丰富的文学工作坊领导和一个天生沟通者。

www.bevaristo.wordpress.com/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernardine_Evaristo/

8.12法利·保罗（Paul Farley）是新生代的诗歌形式和技术的创新诗人之一。他以一种独有的、扣人心弦方式将传统诗歌发扬光大。他先后荣获惠布瑞特诗歌奖、E·M·福斯特奖、进步诗歌奖的最佳处女”奖。他同时也是《星期日泰晤士报》评出的1999年年度青年作家。他非常善于策划主持电台广播中的诗歌创作节目。

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/03/mark-haddon-paul-farley-conversation/

8.13珍·哈德菲尔德（Jen Hadfield）已经出版了两部诗歌作品，并获得了埃里克·格雷戈里奖和杜瓦奖。她的《无邻之地》（Nigh-No-Place）曾获著名的T.S.艾略特文学奖。她的诗歌以独有的方式，反映了其在苏格兰设得兰岛生活经历。

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jan/12/jen-hadfield-ts-eliot-prize1/

8.14托尼·哈里森（Tony Harrison）是最杰出的且仍在创作的诗人之一。他的诗歌语言既高雅脱俗，同时也具有生活语言的强大生命力和可读性。他的戏剧作品以及他创作出的一种如同电影的诗歌体例也享有盛誉。他作品提醒人们：英国事实上是一个具有非常强烈文化地域观念的国家。如果有人问到，我敢肯定，托尼·哈里森会首先说他是一个约克郡人，约克郡是英国北部的郡县之一。他的诗歌已经影响了许多其他诗人。

www.contemporarywriters.com

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive

www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/tony-harrison-not-to-be-read-quietly

8.1大卫·哈森特（David Harsent）已出版10卷的诗歌作品，并已获得许多奖项，包括埃里克·格雷戈里奖、乔蒙德利奖、“进步诗歌奖”的“年度最佳诗歌集”奖和费伯纪念奖。他也是一名戏曲编剧，并曾与当代著名作曲家哈里森·伯特威斯尔密切合作。

www.davidharsent.com/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=5917/

8.16约翰·赫格里（John Hegley）在当代诗歌中拥有独特的地位。他的作品在成年读者和年轻读者中都享有盛誉，并且他既以奇异的爱德华·李尔般图画阐述他的作品，甚至自己谱曲并用曼陀林和吉他演奏。他将严肃的艺术和通俗的流行很好结合起来。他对自己的作品而言，也是出色的演奏家。

www.johnhegley.co.uk/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

8.17马修·霍利斯（Matthew Hollis）作为新生代诗人，他荣获了埃里克·格雷戈里奖。他的最新著作《地下水》（Ground Water）已入围多项大奖。他最近完成了一本关于诗人爱德华·托马斯的书。他是一位经验丰富的诗歌作品出版商，并正在为英国费伯出版公司(Faber & Faber)挑选拟出版的诗歌作品。

http://www.matthewhollis.com/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/

8.18艾伦·詹金斯（Alan Jenkins）曾荣获埃里克·格雷戈里奖、乔蒙德利奖以及“进步诗歌奖”中的最佳诗歌集奖。他的诗是用极优美语言反映我们人类最强烈的情感。他的诗歌是爱情的挽歌，歌颂爱情与奉献。他现任英国《泰晤士报》文学副刊的副主编。

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.clivejames.com/poetry/jenkins

8.19罗杰·麦戈（Roger McGough）在上世纪六十年代，利物浦诗人成功将利物浦市打造成为全国诗歌复兴的中心。作为其中的一员，他因此而在诗坛声誉鹊起。他先后两次获得信号诗歌奖、一次乔蒙德利奖。他的诗通俗易懂，但同样语言优美且针砭时弊。他主持BBC第四电台的诗歌节目 Poetry Please获得广大听众的热烈追捧。他极其善于朗诵自己的诗歌作品。

www.uktouring.org.uk/rogermcgough/

www.contemporarywriters.com

www.poetryarchive.org/

www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/5995648/Roger-McGough-Why-we-all-want-more-poetry-please.html

8.20伊恩·麦克米兰(Ian McMillan)作为一位诗人引领诗歌走出书斋，踏进更广阔世界。他为创作诗歌曾居住在足球俱乐部、警察局和办公室。他的诗歌朗诵无论是对成年或是年轻的读者而言都是魅力十足和妙趣横生的。他正主持BBC第三电台每周一次的“动词”（The Verb）节目。

www.uktouring.org.uk/ian-mcmillan/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/

8.21 8.21保罗·马尔登（Paul Muldoon）出生于北爱尔兰。他也许是当今最有影响力的诗人。他对年轻一代的诗人的影响可谓是巨大的。其平和的处世之道和随处可见的押韵修辞尤是如此。他的诗歌作品可视为对语言的一种审视，而日常用语在其笔下往往也别开新意。他的作品载誉无数，包括T ·S 艾略特奖、莎士比亚奖以及普利策诗歌奖。

www.paulmuldoon.net/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=12003/

www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/johntusainterview/muldoon_transcript.shtml/

8.22达尔吉特·纳格拉（Daljit Nagra）的作品《多佛，我们来了》（Look We Have Coming to Dover）获得了进步诗歌奖中的最佳单首诗歌和最佳处女作奖,以及英格兰艺术委员会De 分贝奖。他的诗歌作品主要探讨其称为“与旁遮普有关的”（Punglish）文化遗产，即移民英国的旁遮普人通用的语言。

www.daljitnagra.com/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=10587/

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/feb/04/poetry.features/

8.23爱丽丝·奥斯瓦尔德（Alice Oswald）是当代最负盛名的诗人之一。她的诗歌是以一种特创的语言方式描绘自然世界。她的诗歌是独一无二的。爱丽丝·奥斯瓦尔德的诗歌获奖无数，包括T ·S 艾略特奖和杰弗里·费伯(Geoffrey Faber)奖。最近，更是从桂冠诗人卡罗尔·安·达菲手中接过了泰德·休斯诗歌奖。

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/mar/30/alice-oswald-ted-hughes-award/

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/tales-from-the-riverbank-nature-poet-alice-oswald-on-her-own-turf-1660882.html

8.24唐·帕特森(Don Paterson)是苏格兰诗人，也是唯一一位曾两次赢得T ·S 艾略特奖的人。 2010年，他荣获了著名的女王诗歌金奖。他是一位伟大且备受推崇的诗人。他同时还著有尖锐的社评和警句书籍，而最近更是发表了一部关于莎士比亚十四行诗的书。他的作品带有主流诗学传统，同时也是现代和充满活力的。

www.donpaterson.com/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=6172/

8.25克里斯托弗·里德（Christopher Reid）作为'火星'诗人之一已在三十年前闻名于世。他的风格已渐趋成熟和完善。他最新发表的书作《午餐之歌》（The Songs of Lunch）已被成功地改编为一部全国性的电视电影。他的另一部作品A Scattering以流动的诗韵缅怀他的亡妻，荣获了柯斯达诗歌奖以及柯斯达年度图书奖。

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/6957867/Christopher-Reid-a-poet-who-was-inspired-by-grief.html

www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=12270

8.26罗宾·罗伯逊（Robin Robertson）是一名具有非常独特嗓音的苏格兰诗人。他赢得了进步诗歌奖中的最佳首部诗歌集奖、年度诗歌集奖和最佳单首诗歌奖。他非常善于朗诵自己的诗歌作品，在乔纳森·凯普出版社担任出版编辑。

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=7610/

www.openlettersmonthly.com/interview-with-poet-robin-robertson/

8.27斯蒂芬·罗默（Stephen Romer）是诗歌中的微妙情感和诗意形式的杰出探索者。他的作品入围T ·S 艾略特奖的候选之列，更荣获了诗歌作品协会的推荐大奖。他是当代法国诗歌的杰出翻译家，并翻译编辑了《二十世纪法国诗歌诗集》。

www.contemporarywriters.com

www.carcanet.co.uk/cgi-bin/indexer?owner_id=642

8.28乔·沙普科特（Jo Shapcott）是最负盛名的当代诗人之一。她先后两次荣获全国诗歌大赛一等奖和柯斯达最佳诗集奖，而她的《关于无常》(Of Mutability)一书，源自其生病期间的冥想，也荣获了柯斯达年度图书奖。她是诗歌协会的现任会长。

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=6473/

www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/8282161/Poet-Jo-Shapcott-wins-Costa-Book-of-the-Year-Award.html/

8.29欧文·谢尔斯(Owen Sheers)是威尔士作家。他是最新一代诗人中最优秀一位。他已经获得了埃里克·格雷戈里奖、威尔士艺术理事会年度图书奖和毛姆奖。他的小说《抵抗》（Resistance）成为了畅销书。他是一位经验丰富的电台主持人，并主持了一档关于现代诗歌的电视节目，该节目影响十分广泛。

www.owensheers.co.uk/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=5918/

8.30乔治·施利茨(George Szirtes)是一位多产的诗人和翻译家。他曾获得了乔蒙德利奖、T ·S 艾略特奖和欧洲诗歌翻译奖等奖项。他出生在匈牙利，成长于英国，并已成为两国诗歌界之间的重要交流桥梁。他是最值得我们尊敬的诗人之一。

www.georgeszirtes.co.uk/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=224/

http://georgeszirtes.blogspot.com/

8.31 迈克尔·S·罗伯茨(Michael Symmons Roberts) 曾获得埃里克·格雷戈里奖、进步诗歌奖、惠特布莱德图书奖和K布伦德尔基金会奖。他是一位经验丰富的广播节目制作人和电台主持。他的诗歌涉猎各种复杂题材，诸如格林汉康芒妇女和平营，以及当代科学和宗教的信仰和怀疑等一系列复杂课题。

www.symmonsroberts.com/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=3478/

8.32劳伦斯·赛欧（Lawrence Sail）先后被授予艺术理事会作家奖、霍索恩登奖学金和乔蒙德利奖。他是著名诗人、评论家和选编家。 2010年，他出版了三本书：一本回忆录，一本圣诞节诗集以及一卷新诗和精选诗集。他的创作是国际化的，曾与来自其他国家的诗人一起合作。

www.bloodaxebooks.com/personpage.asp?author=Lawrence+Sail/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.wordpowered.org/InWords/files/sail_kit.pdf/

8.33本杰明·西番（Benjamin Zephaniah）是当代最著名的诗人之一。他的作品曾获奖无数，尽管他的声誉主要来自他的令人难忘的现场表演。他的诗歌作品同样畅销。他是一位杰出的诗人和面向青少年读者的小说家。他花很多时间在中国，并且无论走到哪都可以交到很多朋友。本杰明·西番通过诗歌描绘了许多英国人，无论其肌肤的颜色，都共同经历过的事情。

www.benjaminzephaniah.com/content/biography.php/

www.contemporarywriters.com/

www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=13371/

第三部分: 诗歌资源

9.1 Apples and Snakes是一家领先的机构，主要关注多元文化的现场诗歌表演。www.applesandsnakes.org/

9.2BBC诗歌季（ BBC Poetry Season）BBC网站上有诗人朗诵他们作品的视频片段。www.bbc.co.uk/poetryseason/

9.3 Bloodaxe Books是一家行业领先的、得到相关部门补贴的诗歌出版社，位于英国诺森伯兰郡。www.bloodaxebooks.com/

9.4英国文化协会文学部的网站。

www.britishcouncil.org/arts-literature.htm/

9.5 Brit Lit: 上有关注当代短篇小说和某些诗人的创新教学材料。

www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/resources/britlit/

9.6 Carcanet 是另一家行业领先的、得到相关部门补贴的诗歌出版社，位于曼切斯特。

www.carcanet.co.uk/

9.7 克莱夫·詹姆斯（Clive James）是一名诗歌评论家，在他的网站上有关于当代诗人的资源。

www.clivejames.com/poetry/

9.8 当代作家（Contemporary Writers）是英国文化协会主办的网站。该网站提供了众多诗人和小说家的传记、著作目录以及重要信息的资源。

www.contemporarywriters.com/

9.9费伯出版公司Faber & Faber 是一家领先的商业诗歌出版社。T·S艾略特曾是该出版社的董事。

www.faber.co.uk/home/poetry

9.10 简奈·温特森（Jeanette Winterson）是一名小说家。她的网站上有当代诗歌的相关内容。

www.jeanettewinterson.com/poetry.asp/

9.11现代诗歌翻译（ Modern Poetry in Translation）是一本将当代诗歌翻译为英语的专业杂志。

www.mptmagazine.com/default.aspx/

9.12 城市诗人（Poet in the City）在伦敦及其周边的写字楼和Kings Place文化会议中心主办了非常成功的诗歌朗诵会。

www.poetinthecity.co.uk/

9.13 诗歌档案（Poetry Archive）. 这是一个重要的资源，其中包括我提及的所有诗人的诗歌朗诵作品。聆听和学习。

www.poetryarchive.org/

9.14 诗歌作品协会（Poetry Book Society）在2012/13年度从艺术委员会达到的拨款将遭到削减。它是一所将众多当代诗歌分发给读者的读书俱乐部。www.poetrybooks.co.uk/

同时，它在其网站上开辟了名为诗歌作品协会读书会的线上诗歌阅读计划。

www.poetrybooks.co.uk/projects/13/

9.15 诗歌协会（Poetry Society ）是在诗人和诗歌领域的领先机构。他们的工作包括出版《诗歌评论》（Poetry Review ）杂志以及组织全国诗歌大赛。

www.poetrysociety.org.uk/

9.16 诗歌频道（Poetry Channel）由诗歌基金会(Poetry Trust)和阿尔德堡（Aldeburgh）诗歌节共同主办。网站上有诗人朗诵其作品的视频片段。

www.thepoetrychannel.org.uk/

9.17 Salt Publishing是短期快速出版诗歌的出版社，现已出版了数量众多的诗歌。

www.saltpublishing.com/

9.18 南岸中心诗歌图书馆：该网站上有大量关于当代诗歌的重要资料。很值得花时间在上面浏览。

www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/

10 博客

10.1 网络空间有什么新鲜事？科技的进步扩展了观众人群，并且带来了博客、在线讨论、在线诗歌和在线评论。前文提到的许多诗人均在他们的个人网站上评论各自的作品。唐·帕特森是一个很好的例子。乔治·施利茨的博客也非常有趣。在线上社交社区例如Facebook 和Twitter上，诗歌也逐渐活跃起来。很多诗人都加入了社交网络。泰晤士报曾报道，Facebook的诗人频道近年的成员大多数在30岁以下，还有不少在25岁以下。而且从报纸上的配图看到，很多人感觉像是杂志时尚版中的人物。推特（Twitter ,其用户为推客）曾组织过这样一个活动：在伦敦国王十字车站的布告牌上播出俳句，每个作品可以展示20分钟，面对的每天经过车站的110,000 人：评判是杰基·凯和小野洋子。

10.1.1坦率地说，大多数的文学博客的内容关注的是小说或是出版业，而非只是聚焦诗歌。其中有些值得一看：

10.2 http://baroqueinhackney.wordpress.com/ Baroque in Hackney/

由凯特·埃文斯·布什（Kate Evans-Bush）撰写的博客。博客内容包括诗歌，在诗歌界有很多粉丝。

10.3 http://theasylum.wordpress.com/2011/03/

约翰·绍夫（John Self）主持这一文学博客（请注意，约翰·绍夫这个名字是马丁·艾米斯（Martin Amis）的小说London Fields中的主要人物之一）

10.4 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog

卫报书籍博客是一个重要的博客，内有诗歌的相关内容。

10.5 https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=BRITISH-IRISH-POETS

该博客主要关注英国和爱尔兰诗人。

10.6 http://www.modernpoetry.org.uk/blinks.html/

关于现代诗歌的博客。

10.7 http://georgeszirtes.blogspot.com/

这是诗人乔治·施利茨的网站。

10.8另外，包括文学和其他方面的网站有：

http://kimbofo.typepad.com/readingmatters/

http://www.readysteadybook.com/

http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/

http://madamearcati.blogspot.com/

http://www.peterkgeoghegan.com/category/books/

Hold Fast to Dreams by Langston Hughes

2011-07-11T01:30:00.004-04:00

Hold Fast to Dreams

by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken wing

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Note:

I like this Hughes' poem, 'Dreams', and I even trimmed it the way I like, hope the poet would forgive me.

Zen Poem: Chicken or Egg

2011-06-11T02:00:00.003-04:00

Zen Poem: Chicken or Egg

By Laijon Liu 20110611

chicken -> egg

egg -> chicken

a body holds a shell

a shell holds a body

outer white, inner eye

within its thin shell

holds life and samsara

history grows in its universe

future bursts and reveals the world

then life faces its constant chaos

striving in a mass of enlightenment

origin, present, doubt and search…

embryo, birth, define and redefine…

till someday the body drops

the shell cracks, and the two worlds meld

Note:

Inspired by an egg poem of a Slovenia poet.

A Very Funny Picture!

2011-06-07T22:29:00.002-04:00

A Very Funny Picture! full of political satire!

People and Cattle

2011-06-07T22:25:00.002-04:00

People and Cattle

Poetry of Wei Zhuang

2011-05-30T02:10:00.017-04:00

Pu Sa Lang

by Poet Wei Zhuang (Tang Poet 836-910)

Translated Laijon Liu 20110530

1/5

In the red chamber, our parting night, sadness

Incense candlelight, half rolled curtains hanging

The crescent moon above the gate

And in tear we bid farewell

Gold emerald feather tied on your pipa

And its four strings sang like oriole

It urged me to come home

It begged me to return soon

Coz the one behind the green gauze glows like a bloom

2/5

Everyone says the River South is nice

Visitor should settle there and get old

The spring river there blue like sky

In a painted boat, hear the raindrops while doze

The women in the bar like moon

Their fair arms shine as frosty snow

Oh young visitor, don’t leave for home

If you leave, you will regret on the road.

3/5

But now I miss the good old days in the River South

That time I was young, and in spring I wore a thin shirt

Riding on my horse, waiting by the leaning bridge

On those chambers, red sleeves were all waving at me

Behind the golden door rings and the lime blinds

I fell drunk in the blossom bush

If I see the blooming twigs again

I swear by my gray hair, I won’t go back home.

4/5

Let’s toast for tonight, let’s get drunk now

Raise our cup and worry not tomorrow

Treasure the good will of our host

The wine is dense like love and friendship

Only be anxious that our spring is short

And don’t complain our gold cups are all full

When we’ve got wine, we try to be merry

Oh life how uncertain it is!

5/5

Spring is always beautiful in Luoyang

But the talent of Luoyang grow old in this foreign town

There the willow must cover the King Wei riverbank

And now I feel I’ve been long lost

Here the peach-blossom by the green ripple again

The Mandarin ducks bath in pairs

And I’m grieving, watching the setting sun

Oh I miss you, I miss you

But you can never hear me again.

Note:

five sequence Ci poems that Tang Poet Wei Zhuang wrote about his life and political career maybe really about his love life? maybe not, it's possible the poet only used love content in all five poems as metaphor for his love and grief toward the old empire that he could no longer serve, Tang, but truly touching, very real, like lost love songs.

Chinese:

韦庄《菩萨蛮》

唐 836-910

1/5

红楼别夜堪惆怅，

香灯半卷流苏帐。

残月出门时，

美人和泪辞。

琵琶金翠羽，

弦上黄莺语。

劝我早归家，

绿窗人似花。

2/5

人人尽说江南好，

游人只合江南老。

春水碧于天，

画船听雨眠。

垆边人似月，

皓腕凝霜雪。

未老莫还乡，

还乡须断肠。

3/5

如今却忆江南乐，

当时年少春衫薄。

骑马倚斜桥，

满楼红袖招。

翠屏金屈曲，

醉入花丛宿。

此度见花枝，

白头誓不归。

4/5

劝君今夜须沉醉，

樽前莫话明日事。

珍重主人心，

酒深情亦深。

须愁春漏短，

莫诉金杯满。

遇酒且呵呵，

人生能几何。

5/5

洛阳城里春光好，

洛阳才子他乡老。

柳暗魏王堤，

此时心转迷。

桃花春水绿，

水上鸳鸯浴。

凝恨对残晖，

忆君君不知。

A bloom is a world, a leaf is a Buddha

2011-05-27T22:02:00.000-04:00

Zen Poem [Ask Buddha]

By tshang dbyangs rgya mtsho (1683 – 1706) Dalai Lama VI

Translated by Laijon Liu 20110527

Sitting is Zen, walking is Zen

A bloom is a world, a leaf is a Buddha

Spring comes, plants are green

Autumn arrives, leaves are fallen

The Great Wisdom is a heart at ease

Words or silence, move or still

All come naturally through peace

Chinese:

坐亦禅，行亦禅，

一花一世界，一叶一如来，

春来花自青，

秋至叶飘零，

无穷般若心自在，

语默动静体自然

A Greatest Chinese Poet Is Still Living Now

2011-05-19T00:42:00.002-04:00

There are so many good, great Chinese poets. All people heard of Qu Yuan, Li Po, Du Fu, Cao Xueqin, but not many people, include Chinese ever heard of Poet Huang Xiang, currently lives in US, dispelled by China gov, coz he just refuses to shut up.

His poems are passionate and powerful, unstoppable free spirit gushing! that immerses all readers.

I've never the poet, but I am planning to search and contact this Great Poet, and pay my respect to him.

I will be very happy!

His poems:

http://mclc.osu.edu/rc/pubs/huangxiang.htm

The Dead Fear Not Death

2011-05-18T22:17:00.004-04:00

The Dead Fear Not Death

Laijon Liu 20110518

They stand on top and lie:

“Sudden change is no good.

Many people could die,

And nation could collapse.”

But the dead fear not death,

Eager eyes will never shut.

Only words can bring peace,

And silence ain't no harmony!

Note:

Civil is self-discipline, one can control their greed, correct their own mistake.

The principal difference between dead and live is that

life holds its freedom but the dead have no choice, just like a caged bird has no life.

God grants people freedom, but slave masters don’t want their slaves to think, look and speak freely, so they must control.

Cinderella Lament

2011-05-07T15:51:00.016-04:00

Cinderella Lament

Laijon Liu 20110506

White plates stack like clouds

Laundries piled up as mountains

From dawn to dusk that thin figure

Flickering in this dim world

Oil drops, grease marks

Mixed up her sweat and tears

Becomes ashen cream

Smeared off her pure fair face

Bed is her dreamland

But every short coma

Is ended by a sudden woke

Kitchen is her battlefield

Grand feasts roll like swelling waves

toward her

And left her squatting on the remains

Sobbing and sipping the leftover soup

A pair filthy tiny bony shaky hands

Cannot bear to hold up a teacup

And so much dirt still cannot cover

The needle mark and knife scar on her fingers

Her sleepy eyes never dare to shut

Never be able to open wide, yet

They can’t close up her fear and desperation

Night is her only friend

When people quiet, she’s afraid no more

Night is her true family

It’s like a kind goddess

Listens to her words and prayers

Ah! Mother!

Let the rats become good horses

Let my coal cart be a pumpkin coach

Let me dash to a foreign kingdom

To dance with my white horse prince

And he shall adore my pure feet

And following my fragrant footstep

He shall find me and marry me!

Night, eternally silent

She repeatedly speaks about her dream

She repeatedly looks up to the stars

That pale moon is going to sink again

And when the red sun rises from east

There will be a wild storm coming again.

Note:

I used to like Cinderella tale when I was a kid, for its inspiration, but now I dislike the story, it’s not a inspiring tale anymore, more like a lie, that rulers or masters or Cinderella’s stepmother use to get a cheap labor of people and Cinderella, and everyday they remind us that one day a handsome prince riding on a white horse will come and save us, and we will be happy after. But so many generations all waited, some were lucky spent their whole life in a dream and died in a dream, and the unlucky ones, they were lied to and after the White Horse Prince married them, they were treated like the same as slave maid, and some even experienced worse. I don’t want to be political but the fact is there for everyone to exam.

Her White Horse Prince should come

An infatuated girl is waiting in dark

But there never crystal shoes in world

Nor the rats can become good horses

Chinese:

灰姑娘哀歌

白碟堆云衣袜积山

从黎明到黄昏那廋弱的身影

就在这冥界里忽隐忽现

油脂粘迹汗珠泪花

混成灰色的妆膏

涂去那纯美的面容

床铺是梦乡

但那每次短暂的昏死

却是以惊醒收场

厨房是战场

盛宴像狂潮般的滚过

剩下的她就蹲在那废墟中

泣食剩汤

一双骨瘦颤抖的脏手

累的抱不起一个茶碗

再多的污垢也盖不住

那数不尽的刺痕和刀伤

她那睁不开的双眼

合不住惊恐和绝望

夜是她唯一的朋友

人静时她不再惧怕

夜是她真正的亲人

像一个慈祥的女神

聆听着她的言语和祷告

啊！母亲！

让硕鼠变成骏马

让煤车成为座驾

我要飞驰到异国

在那俊美的王子前翩舞

他毕爱慕我洁净的双足

会追寻我的芳迹将我迎娶

夜永恒的沉默

她一次次的述说梦想

她一次次的仰望星空

那苍白的月亮又要沉下去了

当红日东升时就又是一场风暴

这就是俺为啥讨厌灰姑娘，每一听到人提起灰姑娘，俺就感觉咱们一直被骗，还在跟灰姑娘一样梦想，俺宁愿死在现实，不愿活在梦中。

白马王子会来到，

姑娘痴情灰中等。

世上若有水晶鞋，

老鼠都能变骏駺！

Ci Poem - Pu Sha Man by Wen Tingyun

2011-04-17T14:32:00.021-04:00

Ci Poems: Pu Sha Man

By Wen Tingyun (812－870)

--------

2/14

Night falls, bright moon in the sky,

behind the blinds, silence and wordless.

Deep inside the bedroom, incense smoke rise,

she keeps her light makeup and lying in bed.

Old times she still cherishing,

Yet the past she's miserable to recollect.

Flowers in dew, pale moon wanes,

Even her brocade quilt feels the dawn cold.

菩萨蛮 2/14

夜来皓月才当午，重帘悄悄无人语。

深处麝烟长，卧时留薄妆。

当年还自惜，往事那堪忆。

花露（一作落）月明残，锦衾知晓寒。

-------

6/14

Treasure envelop, decorate sparrow, and gold lovebirds

on the eaglewood shelf, Wu mountains are green again.

Poplars and willows regain their thin thread,

While the spring rain scattering on the post bridge.

In the painted chamber, no note nor message,

Fragrant grass covered the river south bank.

Between the brocade mirror and blossom branch,

This feeling that who would cherish?

菩萨蛮 6/14

宝函钿雀金鸂鵣，沉香阁（一作关）上吴山碧。

杨柳又如丝，驿桥春雨时。

画楼音信断，芳草江南岸。

鸾镜与花枝，此情谁得知。

-------

9 / 14

Peony fallen, orioles stopped their song,

Green poplars fill the garden under the moon.

To recollect, yet she can't make a dream,

Behind the windowpane, candle light dim.

Emerald gold hairpin, heavy on her head,

Lonely she shut herself in the fragrant chamber.

oh her love is away, her tear marked the handrail,

and the swallows flew away, the spring near its end.

菩萨蛮 9/14

牡丹花谢莺声歇，绿杨满院中庭月。

相忆梦难成，背窗灯半明。

翠钿金压脸，寂寞香闺掩。

人远泪阑干，燕飞春又残。

------

10/14

Bright moonlight spills in the palace, pear blossom white,

Old friend away, separated by countless Guan mountains.

Golden geese in pair they flying,

and tears wet her embroidered jacket.

Small garden, fragrant grass green,

Home is Over brook bend:-)

Poplars and willows dress in same color,

Swallows already returned, but you are not back.

菩萨蛮 10/14

满宫明月梨花白，故人万里关山隔。

金雁一双飞，泪痕沾绣衣。

小园芳草绿，家住越溪曲。

杨柳色依依，燕（一作雁）归君不归。

------

14/14

Glass pillow behind the crystal blind,

Mandarin duck quilt wrapped, broods a warm sweet dream.

Willows on the river bank, surround like green mist,

Wild geese flying in the crescent night sky.

Lotus root thread in weak autumn color,

the untrimmed hair-dress people wear.

Two temples beneath the fragrant red,

A jade hairpin quivering in breeze on her head.

菩萨蛮14/14

温庭筠

水精帘里颇黎枕，暖香惹梦鸳鸯锦。

江上柳如烟，雁飞残月（一作日）天。

藕丝秋色浅，人胜参差剪。

双鬓隔香红，玉钗头上风.

---------

Ex Tang Dynasty Guitarist: Lao Wu

2011-03-02T20:43:00.001-05:00

Great Guitar Play!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYksxTjSh10&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skM0xyr5Z9E&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxSD3q8vBgA&feature=related

Life like a Tree

2011-02-28T18:03:00.002-05:00

O I do not know what love is

2011-02-12T17:31:00.006-05:00

O I do not know what love is

by Laijon Liu 20110212

O I do not know what love is

but I know “I love you!”

Even the society law sealed you and me

yet it cannot put down my erection and impulse

Yeah! Let them curse and condemn

their voice is our mad dance melody

Let’s rip off our veil and scarf

joyfully marching in font of their fearful eye

Let’s dump that thousand-year baggage

so it won’t be the block on the road to our dream

Let’s open our door, walk on street

hail and sing to every girl

Let’s climb the peak, plunge into ravine

and dash into the amorous sun and blossom season

噢，我不知道爱情是啥

但我却知道“我爱你！”

尽管世道和理法将你我封闭

却压抑不住我冲动的勃起

让他们的怒骂和谴责

成为你我劲舞的歌曲

我们脱去面纱和束巾

在他们畏惧的眼光中欢进

我们抛却那千年沉重的包裹

让它不再成为梦想的阻隔

我们打开家门，走上街头

欢呼，歌唱每一位姑娘

我们一起攀爬高山，跳入深谷

飞奔着跑入艳阳花季

Sick Letter to Followers By [Song] Monk Faquan

2011-02-09T01:13:00.000-05:00

Sick Letter to Followers

By [Song] Monk Faquan

Translated by Laijon Liu 20110209

Dislike this world

sick to my heart

and physical pain

tortures me like a demon

I know my days

are only a few now

but still I feel that

my life lingers too long

so my boiling medicine

become offering incense

and my groaning

are my chant and prayer

if Manjusri hears

and asks me

Could I reply him

with my Silence?

Three weeks ago I was sick, got flu and fever, and mixed multiple symptoms, battling for 4 days I couldn’t eat a meal, only lived on water and juice, and after I went ER myself, I thought I was dying on the way, I would be glad, that moment I realized that Silence could answer a lot of problem, like all the boring tv shows on weekends, and physical pain in this stinky skin bag.

Chinese original:

病中示诸子

【宋】法泉

Zen Elegy by Song Monk Zhiyuan

2011-02-09T00:08:00.001-05:00

Zen Elegy

By [Song] Monk Zhiyuan

Translated by Laijon Liu 20110208

Why talk about

life or death

Why try to find

the state of nirvana

Our heart and spirit

shdn’t strive in the world

Just bury this jar of ash

under a pine tree

the green moss

and the fragrant grass

shall sprout up

naturally

this is a beautiful Zen elegy and happy me dig it up:-)

Chinese original:

挽歌词

【宋】智圆

莫谈生灭与无生，

谩把心神与物争。

陶器一藏松树下，

绿苔芳草自纵横。

Snow

2011-02-08T14:51:00.002-05:00

Last snow pic.

Tong Li

2011-01-15T01:56:00.003-05:00

I love Tong Li, a Chinese singer has an angel voice that sings the best Chinese vocal ever, her songs range from traditional folk to Tang Song poetry. I have most her cds that I could find in Chinatown and listen to her every night.

the below are examples:

Night Sky (Hebrew Folk)

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/pf5kQUcF_wE/

Tian Zhu Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNCoUKLjNLQ

The Song of Weicheng

http://www.myspace.com/tonglimusic

Who would know my feeling now

http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/5453-fuhge/article?mid=31521&next=31374&l=f&fid=76

all her songs are poetry, from Han,Tang, Song, Qing Classical to Modern poems, some poets' work like Wang Wei, Li Bai, Li Shangyin, Bai Juyi, Li Qingzhao, Lu You, Cao Xueqin...

here is one example that her work of Hebrew Folk song that originally called 'Erev Shel Shoshanim' I translated her Chinese lyric, the song is the first link on this page.

夜空 Night Sky

童丽 by Tong Li

新月下采花衣 under the crescent I gather flower cloth

夜深清静人依依 the night is deep n cold and quite, people rest

花儿盛开随风飘逸 the flower are blooming, floating in wind

祝福都给你 all blessings are bestow to you

Layla yored le'at (Night falls slowly）

Veru'ach shoshan noshvah （And a wind of lilies blows）

花瓣飘去飘落天涯 the petal floating, fallen in the skyline

又为谁牵挂 for whom I now worry

夜空飘过乌云 in the night sky, the dark clouds floating

像心表面的阴影 like the shadow shrouded upon my heart

流浪的星划破天际 the wandering stars lacerate the horizon

寄语给浮云 sending the word to the floating clouds

Layla yored le'at （Night falls slowly）

Veru'ach shoshan noshvah （And a wind of lilies blows)

远方星星闪着光芒 the faraway stars sparkling their light

轻诉着忧伤 kindly telling me their sorrow

夜空飘过乌云 in night sky, the dark clouds floating

像心表面的阴影 like the shadow shrouded upon my heart

流浪的星划破天际 wandering stars lacerate the horizon

寄语给浮云 sending the word to the floating clouds

Layla yored le'at （Night falls slowly）

Veru'ach shoshan noshvah （And a wind of lilies blows）

远方星星闪着光芒 the faraway stars sparkling their light

轻诉着忧伤 kindly telling me their sorrow

Layla yored le'at （Night falls slowly）

Veru'ach shoshan noshvah (And a wind of lilies blows)

远方星星闪着光芒 the faraway stars sparkling their light

轻诉着忧伤 kindly telling me their sorrow

远方星星闪着光芒 the faraway stars sparkling their light

轻诉着忧伤 kindly telling me their sorrow

she's got an awesome taste, for both melody and lyric too. Love her!!!

Untitled By Poet Li Shangyin

2010-10-09T12:48:00.005-04:00

Untitled
By Poet Li Shangyin
Translated by Laijon Liu 20101009

It’s difficult to meet, yet difficult to part
The east wind weakens, all flowers fade
Silkworm to death, gives out its last thread
Candle burns to ashes, its tear shall cease
In dawn mirror we’re sad, our hair all gray
At night we sing, the moonlight is so chill
From here to Immortal Peak, a few roads
Blue bird ardently flies, trying to get there

-

相见时难别亦难，
东风无力百花残。
春蚕到死丝方尽，
蜡炬成灰泪始干。
晓镜但愁云鬓改，
夜吟应觉月光寒。
蓬山此去无多路，
青鸟殷勤为探看。

A girl in my office

2010-09-23T13:11:00.003-04:00

Today she was squatting and cutting a box,

and when I saw her posture and expression

I immediately felt a hormone surge for a shot.

So I did shoot a photo and really liked it

that somehow very familiar as The Kitchen Maid:-)

Two Pictures of New York

2010-09-21T18:29:00.002-04:00

Folk Song: You Eyes

2010-07-08T00:56:00.007-04:00

Folk Song: You Eyes
English Lyric by Laijon Liu 20100708

It’s like a softly rain
Falling in my heart,
That feeling is so magic.
I raise my head to see you,
But you don’t answer me.
Even you are silent,
But I cannot forget,

The gazing speaking your eyes,
Vivid graceful beauty, ah~
My friend, my world
I am so happy

Song Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWn23OAGewU

Chinese:

你的眼神
Your Eyes

作词:苏来
作曲:苏来
Composed by Su Lai

象一阵细雨
洒落我心底,
那感觉如此神秘.
我不禁抬起头看着你,
而你并不露痕迹.
虽然不言不语,
叫人难忘记.

那是你的眼神,
明亮又美丽, 啊～
友情天地,
我满心欢喜.

Ode to E Fang Palace

2010-07-01T00:51:00.002-04:00

Ode to E Fang Palace
By Du Mu
Translated by Laijon Liu 20100701

Six kings were dethroned, four seas were united.
The mountain of Shu was chopped off,
and then E Fang Palace was built.
It covered three hundred li, isolated the sky and the sun.
From Li Mountain of north they constructed
toward west till they reached capital Xian Yang.
Two broad rivers slowly flowing into the wall of palace.
Five step a chamber, ten pace a pavilion;
The corridors like snakes creeping and circling,
eaves and brim like bird bills highly raised;
every carved stone held its unique pose,
hooking each other’s heart or charging with their horns.
Convolving and encircling, like hives and whorls,
And highly the houses stood many thousands.
Long bridges flying above the waves and ripples;
Oh, the clouds did not gather, how come the dragons appeared?
The overbridges hanging in midair;
The sky was still dim, but why the rainbows shining?
Among the high and low structures,
One would be lost and couldn’t point out west or north.
Singing platforms, warm melodies,
Spring scenery, all in harmony;
Dancing halls, breeze of sleeves,
Winds and rains, sadness and misery.
On the same day, in this palace,
The weather were all different.

Concubines, mistress, bedmaids, and sex slaves,
Princes and sons, and grand children of kings,
They all farewell their country and house
And drove here to serve the Emperor Qin.
They chanted their morning songs,
Plucked their musical strings at night,
Hailed the emperor all the days
To fulfill their duty in this palace.
Bright stars were glimmering,
Those were their makeup mirrors;
Dark clouds swinging and floating,
They washing their hair at morn.
The river Wei flowing like oil,
Their face cream dumped into it;
The smoke rose into the sky,
Their incense burning hour.
Suddenly thunders stroke,
The emperor’s chariot past.
The echoing sound remained,
Yet one knew not where it was.
Every inch skin, every fair face,
Perfect condition, gorgeously beautiful,
They kindly leaned and stood long time,
to the distant place they had looked,
hoping for the favor of the emperor.
Some had never seen him for thirty six years.
The collection of State Yan and Zhao,
The work of state Han and Wei,
The talents of state Qi and Chu,
So many years and so many generations,
All were plundered and carried away,
Piled up here like countless hills.
Once they could not possess their treasure,
Then all delivered here.
Caldrons and bells, jade and stones,
Gold bricks and pearl gravels,
Were cast off on the floor,
Even the citizen of Qin saw the scene
felt that was appropriate.

Ah, one man’s feeling, connected to all men’s heart.
The Qin Emperor lusted for luxury and extravagance,
And common people loved and cared their houses.
Even he could extort people to nothing,
But why he wastefully treated them like dust?!
The pillars stood in the palace
Were more than the farmers in field;
Rafters and girders were many,
More than sewing maids by the machine;
Screws and nails too much,
More than millet and grain in storehouse;
Massive covering roof tiles
More than people’s coat;
Handrails vertical and horizontal,
More than the city walls;
Noisy instrument music
Flooded the people’s voice;
And all people in the world
Dared not to complain, but dared to rise up mad!
Arbitrary dictatorship filled his heart,
Day by day he became proud.
So people cried out, warriors broke in,
A torch was lit up, the palace burnt and ravaged!

Welladay! Who conquered six states?
Not Qin Emperor, but themselves.
who destroyed Qin empire?
Qin emperor himself, not people.
If all six states loved and trusted each other,
Then together they could resist Qin army;
If Qin loved all its conquering states,
Then the empire would last its reign,
Who would want to overthrow it?
The Qin rulers did not have a chance
to pity and recollect themselves,
Only the later generations shall do,
Yet if we only sigh but do not reflect,
Then our children will shed tears for us.

Chinese:
阿房宫赋
杜牧

六王毕，四海一。蜀山兀，阿房出。覆压三百余里，隔离天日。骊（Lí）山北构而西折，直走咸阳。二川溶溶，流入宫墙。五步一楼，十步一阁；廊腰缦回，檐牙高啄；各抱地势，钩心斗角。盘盘焉，囷囷（qūn）焉，蜂房水涡，矗（chù）不知其几千万落。长桥卧波，未云何龙？复道行空，不霁（jì）何虹？高低冥迷，不知西东。歌台暖响，春光融融；舞殿冷袖，风雨凄凄。一日之内，一宫之间，而气候不齐。

妃嫔[pín]媵（yìng）嫱，王子皇孙，辞楼下殿，辇（niǎn）来于秦。朝歌夜弦（xián），为秦宫人。明星荧荧，开妆镜也；绿云扰扰，梳晓鬟（huán）也；渭流涨腻，弃脂水也；烟斜雾横，焚椒兰也。雷霆乍惊，宫车过也；辘辘（lù）远听，杳（yǎo）不知其所之也。一肌一容，尽态极妍，缦立远视，而望幸焉。有不见者，三十六年。燕赵之收藏，韩魏之经营，齐楚之精英，几世几年，剽（piāo）掠其人，倚叠如山。一旦不能有，输来其间。鼎铛（chēng）玉石，金块珠砾，弃掷逦（lǐ）迤（yǐ），秦人视之，亦不甚惜。

嗟乎！一人之心，千万人之心也。秦爱纷奢，人亦念其家。奈何取之尽锱（zī）铢（zhū），用之如泥沙？使负栋之柱，多于南亩之农夫；架梁之椽（chuán），多于机上之工女；钉头磷磷，多于在庾（yǔ）之粟(sù)粒；瓦缝参差（cēn cī ），多于周身之帛缕；直栏横槛（jiàn），多于九土之城郭；管弦呕哑（ōuyā），多于市人之言语。使天下之人，不敢言而敢怒。独夫之心，日益骄固。戍（shù）卒叫，函谷举，楚人一炬，可怜焦土！

呜呼！灭六国者六国也，非秦也；族秦者秦也，非天下也。嗟夫！使六国各爱其人，则足以拒秦；使秦复爱六国之人，则递三世可至万世而为君，谁得而族灭也？秦人不暇自哀，而后人哀之；后人哀之而不鉴之，亦使后人而复哀后人也。

Starry Night of Vincent van Gogh

2010-06-25T02:31:00.006-04:00

Starry Night of Vincent van Gogh
By Laijon Liu 20100625

‘In sorrow, yet ever joyful’ – St. Paul

Whenever I feel lonely
I would break out of my cell
And go out into the night
To paint the starry sky

The bright stars shining above
Spinning in the spiral torrent
And the waning orange moon
Glowing in her golden flare

The wind gushing its stream
Blanketing the dark blue hills
The village houses glittering
Resting in silence and peace

The spire of a small church
Piecing into the winds
And a giant cypress ahead
Blazing up its green flame
To console the flooded sky!

Memorial Day Poem

2010-05-28T22:57:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day Poem
For the heroes rest in peace and those fight on
by Laijon Liu 20100528

We pray for the peace of the world
But there are wars must be fought
When our love and home are trampled
There’s no reason to be tame and calm

Heaven is built upon justice
And demons must be kicked out
There sh’d be no place on earth
To let anyone preach his hell

Oh heroes, thou are wise and brave
There many victories you’ve fought
And many ahead you’ll wrestle out
Tonight, with this poem I offer my respect

Nostalgia

2010-05-05T23:01:00.004-04:00

Nostalgia
By Mr. Yv Guangzhong (1928-)

When I was little
Nostalgia was a tiny stamp
I was here, my mom was there

When I grew up
Nostalgia was a small steamer ticket
I was here, my wife over there

And after
Nostalgia was a low-built grave
I was outside, my mom inside

But now
Nostalgia is a shallow straits
I am here, and the mainland there

Note:
I recently read this poem that done by a Chinese Contemporary poet Mr. Yv Guangzhong余光中currently lives and teaches in Taiwan, I loved it and translated here to share. There are multi-layers buried beneath this simple poem, time, relationship, love, life value, and journey thru aging… all built a stanza by stanza triggering reader’s feeling and understanding deeper and deeper… and I all school should mandate poetry class, from bottom up, elementary, junior high, and high school, so every pupil will grow up educated and naturally an artist, what kind of parents wouldn't want their kids to read poems like this?

Zhao Gan's Painting “Traveling on the River in First Snow”

2010-04-20T20:56:00.002-04:00

Painted by Zhao Gan (赵干), Native of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. He was in the Imperial Painting academy during the reign of Emperor Li Yu (961-975) of the Southern Tang period. He specialized in painting rural and urban scenes of south China characterized by complex compositions. Above painting “Traveling on the River in First Snow” (江行初雪图) depicts fishermen trawling in snow.

The Sun by Tang Dynasty, Tab Sheet, English Lyric

2010-04-20T01:34:00.007-04:00

Song: The Sun by Tang Dynasty
Lyric and music by Tang Dynasty band
Guitar Tab Sheet by Liu Zhuan
English translation or Unofficial English Lyric by laijon Liu 2010.04.20

When I face this- empty Gobi
I’ve forgotten all myself
Even my waiting takes too long
Still you show me such surprise
My agitations n suspirations
All become meaning-less
So I begin to believe in you
Like our people in the ancient time oh~

When I face this- empty Gobi
I raise my head to see you
Your shining light in my drifting heart
Melted forever loneliness
Your great presence, never a false myth
Your legend past down to generations
You see the green isle slowly fade away
And see people come by n pass away

Great sun, where are you now
Great sun, where are you
Great sun, where are you now
Great sun, where are you….

When I face this- empty Gobi
My heart hears your passion
tell me- where we come from
who we are and what we do
tell why we must- hasten in life
but don’t know where we go
see the blue sky you sit alone
tell me “Is God truly exist!”

when the roasting flame- burning everyplace
life dash out of body
my bare bosom filled by your fire
spilling your conquering blazing stream
don’t let the darkness cover me
coz the sun is growing in me
never there will be fear or lonely
coz my soul is in the sky now

Great sun, embrace me now
Great sun, embrace me now
Great sun, embrace me now
Great sun, embrace me now
Great sun, embrace me now
Great sun, embrace me now…

Note:
I love this song so much. So I got a Tab sheet for this song and inserted my translated my unofficial English lyric below the Chinese, even though my lyric is unofficial, still I beg people, please do respect my copyright:), don’t change my lyric, coz it’s very close to Tang’s Chinese lyric, and I spent my whole drunken night for it:)

Chinese&English:

当我面对这无人的戈壁
When I face this- empty Gobi
我忘了我自己
I’ve forgotten all myself
虽然已经期待的漫长
Even my waiting takes too long
可看到你还是惊奇
Still you show me such surprise
多少激动多少叹息
My agitations n suspirations
在生命中越来越没意义
All become meaning-less
於是我开始信赖你
So I begin to believe in you
像我们祖先一样神秘喔~
Like our people in the ancient time oh~

当我面对这无人的戈壁
When I face this- empty Gobi
我抬头望见你
I raise my head to see you
你的安详透过我流浪的心
Your shining light in my drifting heart
融化了长存的孤寂
Melted forever loneliness
你的存在不只是神话
Your great presence, never a false myth
人们的传说不知过了多少世纪
Your legend past down to generations
你看到沙洲漫漫点点荒绿
You see the green isle slowly fade away
你看到一个人变老然後死去
And see people come by n pass away

太阳你在哪里
Great sun, where are you now
太阳你在哪里
Great sun, where are you
太阳你在哪里
Great sun, where are you now
太阳你在哪里......
Great sun, where are you

当我面对这无人的戈壁
When I face this- empty Gobi
我觉得心浪伏起
My heart hears your passion
告诉我我们从哪里来
tell me- where we come from
我们是谁我们作甚麽
who we are and what we do
告诉我为甚麽忙忙碌碌
tell why we must- hasten in life
却不知道走到哪里去
but don’t know where we go
看苍天蓝蓝唯你独自占有
see the blue sky you sit alone
告诉我是不是真有上帝
tell me “Is God truly exist!”

当炙热的红焰吞噬大地
when the roasting flame- burning everyplace
生命冲出了躯体
life dash out of body
空汤的胸膛充满你的火焰
my bare bosom filled by your fire
流躺征服的熔岩
spilling your conquering blazing stream
别想把黑暗放在我的面前
don’t let the darkness cover me
太阳已经生长在我心底
coz the sun is growing in me
不再有封闭的畏惧
never there will be fear or lonely
奔腾的灵魂飞上天际
coz my soul is in the sky now

太阳我在这里
Great sun, embrace me now
太阳我在这里
Great sun, embrace me now
太阳我在这里
Great sun, embrace me now
太阳我在这里
Great sun, embrace me now
太阳我在这里
Great sun, embrace me now
太阳我在这里........
Great sun, embrace me now…

Giappone_in_Primavera

2010-04-11T01:17:00.003-04:00

The spring on my screen
Where the myriad bloom
Over the mirroring pond
There the temples glow

Footpath dressed by petals
Leads to the yard of Eden
There the azure sky, liberal cloud
And the green pasture of home

Note:
This is my reflection poem that one of my friends robin on about.com did cool ppt. slides for Spring theme, beautiful. The picture is my screen capture for a few slides of hers, only I made each so small to fit in one pic. I wish in future, everywhere on earth would be like this, green, blue and blossomy.

Best Sonnet of Shakespeare

2010-04-01T10:59:00.003-04:00

Best Sonnet of Shakespeare: Sonnet 66

Tired with all these, for restful death I cry,

As to behold desert a beggar born,

And needy nothing trimmed in jollity,

And purest faith unhappily forsworn,

And gilded honor shamefully misplaced,

And maiden virtue rudely strumpeted,

And right perfection wrongfully disgraced,

And strength by limping sway disablèd,

And art made tongue-tied by authority,

And folly, doctor-like, controlling skill,

And simple truth miscalled simplicity,

And captive good attending captain ill.

Tired with all these, from these would I be gone,

Save that to die, I leave my love alone.

Note:

No plan or work of format or structure, the poet sings freely and truthfully, there are many sonnets well planned, but this so true that not many poets could say it and it is eternal truth for our society in any era, and the last line is our purpose why we don't exit.

Chamber Love

2010-03-30T23:12:00.002-04:00

Chamber Love
By Liu Guo (Song Dynasty)
Translated by Laijon Liu

Our deep feeling, truthful thought,
Your thin eye brows, and my smooth beard;
In that chamber under the bright moon,
And flowing sound of our instrument,
Together we composed the melody of spring.

O, I think of you, I recall you,
My spirit longs, and in my dream I search;
Our emerald blanket with fragrance and warmth,
And cloud under our bed curtains,
But now, I am waked from drink.

Note:
This poem is in elementary school, well,
Usually adult just think that kids are idiots.
Until, they figure out what the poet talks about,
And they will stop meditating on it.

Chinese:
醉太平‧闺情
刘过

情深意真，
眉长鬓青。
小楼明月调筝，
写春风数声。

思君忆君，
魂牵梦萦。
翠绣香暖云屏，
更那堪酒醒。

Spring Anxiety

2010-03-30T22:17:00.002-04:00

Spring Anxiety
By Ms. Zhu Shuzhen (Song around 1130)
Translated by Laijon Liu

Alone I walked, alone I sat
Alone I sang and drank
And alone I lay to rest.

For a long while I stood
With a heartbroken spirit
But the chill spring wind
I had no solution to fend

This feeling
Who would understand?
My tears washed off all my face cream.

Anxiety and illness
That I must endure all night
By picking the lonesome candlelight
Yet, a dream I could not make.

Chinese:
减字木兰花
春怨　　
朱淑真　　

独行独坐，
独唱独酬还独卧。
伫立伤神，
无奈春寒著摸人。

此情谁见，
泪洗残妆无一半。
愁病相仍，
剔尽孤灯梦不成。

Ode to Ocean

2010-03-22T02:58:00.000-04:00

Ode to Ocean
Laijon Liu 2010.03.21

O1
With what I must measure you, Mother?
Your infinite depth and weight
When Yahweh hovering above you,
Did He bless you with his years?
Your sacred sovereign blue mass
Contains all the past and future
And the living and dead on earth
Must embrace you as their home.

O2
Vast, your limit stretches into sky
And deep, there are worlds beneath
Continents are sketched out by your hands
Peaks and rivers, you support and collect
Sun gives you warmth and golden glare
And moon draws your mood and tide
Rain and clouds you create and spread
All life on earth are waiting for your bless.

O3
Yet, silence and roars both your voice
Peace and chaos your unpredicted ways
In your realms of shallow and deep
We always taste bitterness and salt
And heroes drift across your worlds
To obtain battles and fall in your toil
All lovers of voyagers on your beach
They kneel down and pray in tears.

O4
Ah, time travels beyond your space
A weary journey that seems eternal
But our prime always too short to last
How we strive for victory and home
Fate, gods’ orders and men’s faith
Chance, gambling luck and wily works
But how can we endure your stillness
Like an old man sitting on the sunset shore.

O5
Yes, the orange sun does rise every dawn
Like he always keeps his promise to you
And by watching this we firmly believe
That you will eventually carry us home
So we held up our staff and called out to heaven
Like we’d already mastered your smashing wave
Then people followed, the book written
To pass down this miracle of unseen.

O6
But could we ever order you to calm down?
Or set our feet of peace to walk upon you?
How much faith we need to divide your depth?
Even Paul got across your void by boat.
And we, only hold steering wheel to adjust
Hope for a good weather or to survive the storm
When a seagull or an isle suddenly appeared
We jump up for joy, and then fear what’s to come.

O7
In you every person searches alone
Since our birth we learn how to swim
One man stretched out his hand toward another
And one girl holding a boy’s hand, waiting for a kiss
Then they embraced; looked into each other’s eyes
Exchanging vows in front of crowd
And walked off the red banquet carpet
To set off for another voyage and to be together at last

O8
And what is waiting for them is the same
As all of us waited since our existence
You, my love; and you, our home.
In you always journey and we start anew
On the board we lie down and look up
The universe is filled with infinite stars
And you rock us like your infant child
Till we sleep, into a world of unknown.

Spring and Autumn (Chun Qiu)

2010-03-11T18:23:00.000-05:00

Spring and Autumn (Chun Qiu)

Metal Rock with New/Modern Poetry

This is awesome Metal band with good lyrics of Modern poetry! And I listen them every morning to get me pumped!

Video and Album Links:

Legend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8b9iOaWYP4&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzW0tCItzJU

A Call From Afar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTeAylYwRb4&feature=related

Under Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKtWiwagr5E&feature=related

New Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOWXa_tB6iU&feature=related

Among Mountains and Sea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMkMrMmjggE&feature=related

Huntsman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQWjVUM_Q9g&feature=related

Murder Room

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvyD9T_loVM&feature=related

***

Amazon Album:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QZWK3O/ref=sr_1_album_1_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B000QWRQK4&qid=1268349085&sr=1-1

Second Hand Rose Band

2010-03-11T18:08:00.000-05:00

Second Hand Rose Band

China Northeast Folk Rock

Very song is cool and comic rock, good melody. Really uplifting rhythm and spirit. Very clever and truthful lyrics that blended the experience of daily life into their song. It seems that Northeast Folk Melody married perfectly with fundamental RocknRoll elements. Very cool creation!!!

The following are their song links and Amazon album:

Fate and Survival

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQg3gEgeBzA&feature=related

Picking Flower

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKiNUldpbEY&feature=fvw

Tricks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR0zExau3SI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5mxEaH0wp8&feature=related

Wolf Heart Dog Lungs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSViJZN-nos

Entertainment Circle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiOo1HslFEs&feature=related

Night Is Deep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSnMf2TlUwg

On The Way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA6iVx-PUHs

****

Amazon

CD Album:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WZ9A1S/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1268348620&sr=8-6

On the Bank I Alone Search Flower

2010-03-04T21:39:00.002-05:00

On the Bank I Alone Search Flower
By Du Fu
Trans;lated by Laijon Liu

The flowers filled the footpath
In the garden of Lady Huang Fourth,
Thousand and ten thousands bloom
On the branches and weighing down.
The lingering playful butterflies
Over the flowers dance and dance,
And unrestrained charming orioles
On the branches sing and sing.

Note:
What a beautiful scene. But did Du Fu truly tell us where was he?
Who was Lady Huang (黄/Yellow) Fourth? Why her first name was a number? Was she a flower planter? What was her business with poet Du Fu? And why Du Fu used character “Search寻” instead of “see赏/观/看”? Maybe flower indicates other thing or people or woman? It might be an entertaining place that involves a lot of beautiful girls dancing and singing. And after such good experience, the great poet wrote down this very famous verses, that many pupils can recite, but scholars don’t want spend time to explain. The poem is always infoed with one line: the Lady Huang Fourth was a friend of Du Fu.

Chinese:
江畔独步寻花
（杜甫）
黄四娘家花满蹊，
千朵万朵压枝低。
留连戏蝶时时舞，
自在娇莺恰恰啼。

Porn cage for sex novice pandas

2010-03-04T18:29:00.004-05:00

Regular readers of this site may remember that several months ago, we covered the story of the sexually incompetent panda at a zoo in Thailand, who was being shown panda porn to get them ready for breeding.

Well, now video has emerged of exactly what the panda's sex education sessions look like - and it turns out that he gets shown the porn while in a small cage, with photographers looking on, and men pointing to the screen and telling him to watch it.

Just the thing to put you in the mood.

The panda in question is Chuang Chuang, who has previously been accused by zookeepers at the Chiang Mai Zoo in northern hailand of being to fat to have sex.

As well as the smut, zookeepers have also tried seperating Chuang Chuang from his mate, Lin Hui, to increase the sexual tension - and intriguingly, staged a mock wedding between the two.

Prasertsak Buntrakoonpoontawee, head of Pandas at the zoo, says in the film: 'Having Chuang Chuang watching the mating video and listening to the sound is a way to arouse him and encourage him to imitate (the activity). Before he might have been clumsy and not known how to approach and react to a female panda. Now he will remember and imitate the video.'

And he's backed up by Zhang Yu, a Chinese expert on pandas (the second interviewee in the video), who notes: 'We usually use a video of other pandas mating during mating season to show to the ones who will be mating for the first time. After that, they will naturally know how to do it themselves.'

My question is, how idiotic this concept is! I have been watching so many porns and everynite, but why still clumsy to approach a woman?:-) Also I do react around woman whether watch the video or not, the problem is, they don't react to me or most time they react against me:-)... And who are these people running the zoo? High school kids?:-) So they think they've learned from the video and then they can do it. huh.:-) Next time maybe they should put two pandas into one cell together watch porn, that might just boost the scoring chances:-) but be sure not same sex, ha, they would never produce a cub:-)

It might be Chuang Chuang's problem, maybe he is not attractive to other stuck-up bitch pandas, or they lock Chuang Chuang in the cell and makes him to watch too much video that other pandas are getting it but not him, that might just kill his confidence and spirit:)

Never Tried This Before:-)

2010-03-04T18:14:00.002-05:00

Middle Age

2010-02-16T18:34:00.000-05:00

Reaching my middle age
I’m afraid of getting fat
Each coffee and milk tea
I choose bitter over sweet
And a meal after a meal
I abstain from satisfaction
But every time I look down
A round belly is hanging on:)

人到中年就怕胖
咖啡奶茶不要糖
餐餐戒口勤减量
低头还见鼓肚肠

Song of Peach Flower Temple

2010-01-31T20:04:00.000-05:00

Song of Peach Flower Temple
By Tang Bohu (1470-1523, Ming)
Translated Laijon 20100131

In a remote peach valley,
There’s a peach temple.
And in that peach temple,
There dwells a peach god.
And the peach flower god,
Plants all his peach trees.
And he sells his peach bloom,
To trade for his peach wine.
He wakes up from drunkenness,
And meditates among peach bloom.
When he drinks up his wine,
He falls asleep under peach bloom.
Half sober and half drunk,
He lives in hangover day after day.
And flower fade flower bloom
Year after year in his yard.
He wishes he stays with his peach trees,
And getting old and dies under them.
And he never wants to give bows
In front of any chariot or horse.
Chariot dust and hoof prints
Are interests of the rich.
But wine cup and flower branch
Are the karma of poor.
If people compare their wealth,
The rich are in heave, the poor on earth.
If people look at the chariot and horse,
The rich gets their ride, but I have my rest.
Others all laugh at me;
They say that I’m crazy;
But I laugh back at them;
That they’re not enlightened.
Don’t you ever see
That by the tomb of past heroes,
Now there’s no flower and wine,
Only an enriched field is ready for spring.

Chinese:
桃花庵歌
唐伯虎
桃花坞里桃花庵，
桃花庵下桃花仙；
桃花仙人种桃树，
又摘桃花换酒钱。
酒醒只在花前坐，
酒醉还来花下眠；
半醒半醉日复日，
花落花开年复年。
但愿老死花酒间，
不愿鞠躬车马前；
车尘马足富者趣，
酒盏花枝贫者缘。
若将富贵比贫者，
一在平地一在天；
若将贫贱比车马，
他得驱驰我得闲。
别人笑我忒疯癫，
我笑他人看不穿；
不见五陵豪杰墓，
无花无酒锄作田。　

Traveling Night I Reflect

2010-01-20T23:26:00.001-05:00

Traveling Night I Reflect
By Du Fu
Translated by Laijon Liu 20100120

Thin grass, chill breeze
Along the shores
High mast, alone boat
In this silent night

The stars are hanging
Over the vast plane field
And the bright moon
Flows in this giant river

Our name and fame
Are truly earned by writing?
How the office task
Is dismissed by my sickness?

Ah, drift and I drift
To whom shall I compare?
Between heaven and earth,
I am just a lonesome gull.

Chinese:
旅夜书怀
杜甫

细草微风岸，
危樯独夜舟。
星垂平野阔，
月涌大江流。
名岂文章著，
官应老病休，
飘飘何所似，
天地一沙鸥。

Have you prepared for 2012?

2010-01-11T11:59:00.002-05:00

Have you prepared for 2012?
by Laijon 20100110

Have you prepared for 2012?
For the worlds shall all be end
Then the East and West melt
And cultures all shape into one

Days of past will forever abide
In the heart and mind of man
All sickness and death
Shall be cured by human hand

God bless us with peace
In the milk and honey land
Religions and the sects
All commute thru one faith

Man shall never be afraid
And terrorists will repent
Our children enjoy in schools
And parents pleased with care

All politicians shall be tamed
And businessmen lust no greed
Our home with bloom and plant
And earth is in green and fine

No rape or wars or earthquake
No hunger or cries of scary waves
Everyone be happy and share
And I can even get a girlfriend:-)

One Cut Plum

2010-01-08T15:05:00.002-05:00

One Cut Plum
By Li Qingzhao
Translated by Laijon Liu 20090107

Red lotus roots
Give out their fragrance
And my reed mat
Cold as autumn jade.
I wrap my shoulders
With a light silk jacket
Alone step into my blue boat.

Who is in the cloud flying
And carrying my brocade mail?
When the wild goose returns
With my love letter,
The moon shall fill my west chamber.

Flowers are floating
To where the stream flows.
One lovesickness
Torments both
Who are at separate places.

This feeling lingers
And I can never resolve.
For it falls off my frowning brow
But lands deeply in my heart.

Poem song by Tong Li
Video Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByMltUzOLFA

Chinese:
一剪梅

【宋】李清照

红藕香残玉簟秋。
轻解罗裳，独上兰舟。
云中谁寄锦书来？
雁字回时，月满西楼。

花自飘零水自流。
一种相思，两处闲愁。
此情无计可消除，
才下眉头，却上心头。

Short Walk Song

2010-01-03T23:58:00.002-05:00

Short Walk Song
By Cao Cao of Three Kingdoms
Translated by Laijon Liu 20100103

Hold wine cup I sing:
How shall our life be?
Like the morning dew,
With the days of grief.
Even if we are fervent,
But sorrows never fade.
What to solve sadness?
Probably only drinks.
The long scholar belt
Tied my will and heart.
For talents and friends
I sigh and chant to now.
Like a deer I call n call,
In the green field I look
For all my good guests
I play my music for all.

Oh the moon so bright
And when can I pluck?
Now my sorrow comes
That it will never cease.
By the road and the path
They come lowly to dwell.
Between farewell n feast,
My heart misses their grace
Bright moon n sparse stars,
The crows flying to south.
They spiral over the trees
To find a branch to perch
Mountain or hills, tall or low
Ocean or lakes, deep or small
The great king bows n prays
For the good service of all!

Chinese:
短歌行
曹操

对酒当歌，人生几何？
譬如朝露，去日苦多。
慨当以慷，忧思难忘。
何以解忧？唯有杜康。
青青子衿，悠悠我心。
但为君故，沉吟至今。
呦呦鹿鸣，食野之苹。
我有嘉宾，鼓瑟吹笙。

明明如月，何时可掇。
忧从中来，不可断绝。
越陌度阡，枉用相存。
契阔谈宴，心念旧恩。
月明星稀，乌鹊南飞。
绕树三匝，何枝可依。
山不厌高，海不厌深。
周公吐哺，天下归心!

Far and Far the Altair Stars

2010-01-03T22:34:00.002-05:00

Far and far the Altair stars
Han Anonymous
Translated by Laijon Liu 20100103

Far and far the Altair stars,
Bright and bright is the Vega.
Her beautiful soft hands
Weaving with her loom.
Day and day she’s never done,
Her tears stream like rain.
The Milky Way seems so shallow,
But how long they must wade?
And now they can only stand
On the bank, look toward each other
And sharing no word, but thoughts.

Panda Need Freedom & Rights

2009-12-28T14:56:00.001-05:00

Panda Need Freedom & Rights

What a Great Wall!

2009-12-21T22:45:00.004-05:00

What a Great Wall!
By Laijon Liu 20091221

There are many sceneries I want to go visit
But I’d never pick the Pyramid and the Great Wall.
Such gigantic monument of human mark
Recorded generations’ slavery and culture tragedy.
One is a giant tomb, a hell hole of Pharaoh’s dynasty,
Whipping his people to lay up countless stone blocks,
That gradually, these massive piled up dead stones
Buried the king and everyone who stood around him.
How one man’s funeral, the whole nation is sacrificed?!

Another is the Great Wall, how great it is?
Since the First Emperor tyrant Qin to present,
That all Chinese emperors forced his people to labor,
Building a giant long wall blocking the whole nation,
In the name of protecting ‘his’ people thru this imprisonment,
So he could forever sit on his throne and enjoy his reign,
Even pigs and cows do have liberty to moan or howl,
And dogs and cats exercise their daily rights to see the outside world,
But no, not Chinaman, they were all born blind, deaf and dumb,
Sitting behind the thick and tall, this endless great fucking wall,
They ate, produced and labored all their life, generation and generation
To maintain our nation’s pride, to make sure our Wall stands forever,
Which truly a disgrace, our ancestors’ embarrassment,
That when Greeks were building their theaters everywhere,
Their massive balanced marble pillars stood in all corners,
And their thinkers and talents teaching civilization to reason,
To vote for their treasure and budget, we our Chinese people
Were so wise and planned to install a Great Wall.

I wonder, How proud every emperor stood on his Great Wall,
Watching his vast fertile land, the green countless mountain ranges,
The many silvery rivers and streams, and his tamed people and flocks,
All blocked and stapled, stocked for his pleasure and use,
Even seasons and moon and sun are circling around him,
All these, all things, all people, and all generations
Are all belong to him! All belong to him!
What a Great Wall!

A Piece Red Band by Cui Jian

2009-12-14T23:23:00.004-05:00

A piece Red Band
By Cui Jian
Translated Laijon Liu 20091214

That day you held a piece red band
Covered my eyes and covered the sky
You asked me, what I saw
I said I saw Happiness
Such feeling really made me well
It let me forget I had no place to dwell

You asked me where I wanted to go
I said I wanted to get on your road
I couldn’t see you nor the front road
And my hands were also held by you

You asked me what I thought
I said I let you be my master
I felt you were not iron
But liked iron strong and stern
I felt you got blood on your shirt
Coz your hands were so warm
Such feeling really made me well
It let me forget I had no place to dwell

You asked me what I thought
I said I wanted to get on your road
I felt that place was not desert
Coz I couldn’t see the earth cracks
I felt I wanted to drink water
But your mouth covered up my lips
I felt that place was not desert
Coz I couldn’t see the earth cracks
I felt I wanted to drink water
But your mouth covered up my lips
I couldn’t move nor could I sob
Coz my body was already dried up
I should forever accompany you
Coz I know all about your sorrows
Doo-Doo-Doo-
Doo-Doo-Doo-
Doo-Doo-Doo-
Doo-Doo-Doo-

Note:
This song was first performed by Cui Jian after his banned period due to his June 4th involvement, his first concert when he eventually allowed to do in China, so I guess he must wrote this great piece to what he experienced and felt, when he performed this song, he used a red band blinded his eyes and sang. Any reader can relate this lyrics after his future and own rights been robbed by someone else, most times, red means blood, earth means nation, sky means heaven and justice in Chinese culture. This song I love it, listen every moning.

Video Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8UPST1ZKSw

Chinese:

一块红布 A piece Red Band
崔健 Cui Jian

那天是你用一块红布
That day you held a piece red band
蒙住我双眼也蒙住了天
covered my eyes and covered the sky
你问我看见了什么
you asked me, what I saw
我说我看见了幸福
I said I saw Happiness
这个感觉真让我舒服
Such feeling really made me well
它让我忘掉我没地儿住
it let me forget I had no place to live

你问我还要去何方
You asked where I wanted to go
我说要上你的路
I said I wanted to get on your road
看不见你也看不见路
I couldn’t see you nor the road
我的手也被你攥住
and my hands were also held by you

你问我还在想什么
You asked me what I thought
我说我要让你做主
I said let you be my master
我感觉你不是铁
I felt you were not iron
却象铁一样强和烈
but liked iron strong and stern
我感觉你身上有血
I felt you got blood on your shirt
因为你的手是热呼呼
coz your hands were so warm
这个感觉真让我舒服
Such feeling really made me well
它让我忘掉我没地儿住
it let me forget I had no place to live

你问我还在想什么
You asked me what I thought
我说我要上你的路
I said I wanted to get on your road
我感觉这不是荒野
I felt that place was no desert
却看不见这地已经干裂
coz I couldn’t see the earth cracks
我感觉我要喝点水
I felt I wanted to drink water
可你的嘴将我的嘴堵住
but your mouth covered up my lips
我感觉这不是荒野
I felt that place was no desert
却看不见这地已经干裂
coz I couldn’t see the earth cracks
我感觉我要喝点水
I felt I wanted to drink water
可你的嘴将我的嘴堵住
but your mouth covered up my lips
我不能走我也不能哭
I couldn’t move nor could I sob
因为我的身体已经干枯
coz my body was already dried up
我要永远这样陪伴着你
I should forever accompany you
因为我最知道你的痛苦
coz I know about all of your sorrow
嘟~嘟~~嘟~~~
Doo-Doo-Doo-
嘟~嘟~~嘟~~~
Doo-Doo-Doo-
嘟~嘟~~嘟~~~
Doo-Doo-Doo-
嘟~嘟~~嘟~~~
Doo-Doo-Doo-

Tang Dynasty Band

2009-12-14T21:55:00.028-05:00

Tang Dynasty Band - Nine Fourth Lyric

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOQmh1rXk_I

Translated by Laijon Liu 20110623

Who wanna pour me- some sour wine

I aint give a damn

The shattered past- lingers

and my brain still numb

Like in the past- all things are mess

Only look at the moon

In lies I have peace

but now- they are troubling my mind

Moonlight! Moonlight

Belong to me!

Moonlight! Moonlight

Melting moonlight!

I wanna be with you- sharing this life

Not to twist this- fragile nerve strand

Quit to believe it- suicide is the end

I am tired- this dark field gray sky!

Peak- in daylight where I be

Stream- carry me to the sea

Oh-

[I] Wanna show you my power

Not to bury myself

Shame n despair are gone

Let out my desire

Like right now- express myself

Unleash my emotion

I want walk in the moonlight

Bath in hope and new life

Moonlight! Moonlight

Belong to me!

Moonlight! Moonlight

Melting moonlight!

I wanna be with you- sharing this life

Not to twist this- fragile nerve strand

Quit to believe it- suicide is the end

I am tired this- dark field gray sky!

Translation Note:

I translated the Mandarin lyric to English, tried to arrange the English words fit the melody of this song, and retain the original meaning of the Chinese lyric.

This is very beautiful song, melody, strength, beat, and poetic power, somehow always reminds me of Li Po’s poem Drink Alone Under the Moon, I can imagine how Tang Dynasty rocked, banged, howled on the 90’s stage, maybe Li Po had same spirit as Tang Dynasty Band sang this lyrical headstrong song, this spirit fits both Li Po and the band members. I think they have better hair than Li Po:)

---

Song name: Epic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJwiv3du6N4
Band: Tang Dynasty Band
Lyrics, extracted and edited by Tang Dynasty
Translated by Laijon Liu 20091214

Rolling rolling the Long River, to the east she elapses
Her spoondrift wash away all the heroes
Right and wrong, victory or lost all disperse as I turn back to look
But the green mountains still stand
And under the red setting sun,
(I wonder) how many times we’ve viewed such scene?

There’s a gray hair fisherman cooking in his boat
He used to see the autumn moon and feel the spring wind
A pot of cheap wine he greets his passerby with merry
And shares all the matters of past and present
That all become laughter and chat.

Heroes under heavens
All brave with skill as wind and thunder, so invincible
They’re righteous and ambitious that never be afraid

Heroes under heavens
All royal and frank, and models of their word
Their will hangs above as sun and moon, guarding the land
Whether in past or now, winds never shake heaven, earth and moon
They renew this land from the old of past
Thru history, no one forever stands
But a loyal heart always shines light into people’s mind.
All and all, this world and matters never cease
Heaven and earth that no one can ever escape
And the moon of the past was not all different
Tonight, she looks upon my cup like all past affairs.

---------------------------

Song Name: Moon Dream (On Amazon: Paradise)
By Music and Lyric Tang Dynasty (Elegy to Past Member Zhang Ju)
Translated by Laijon Liu 20091227

Moon dream, so quiet and deep
Silver frosty fog, fair soul floated and dispersed
So dreary and lonely, I wandered at this long dark night
The wind blew, flower shed, I looked at sky and sang
Where are you among the clear sparkling broken pearls?
Tranquil water rippling in pond, the moon smashed and gone
My heart like spring well shook, this moment and last night
My thoughts searched everywhere in this vast firmament
But moon already wend to the west, how I could forget
You were by my side, we shared so much joy
And now so much grief, it never would be the same
Moon and your shadow joined and parted, how much joy
How much wandering as the wind past by
Cloud and your shadow like a dream, how could I forget
You were by my side, we shared so much joy
And now so much grief, it never would be the same
Moon and your shadow joined and parted, how much joy
How much wandering as I looked up the moon
With my flute I sang you my tribute, how I could forget
You were by my side, we shared so much joy
And now so much grief, my night never be the same
Oh- oh- oh- Oh- oh- oh- Oh- oh- oh-
I want to hold you, I want to hold you, I want to hold you

This most touching song, and sad. There are some tradition that Chinese family and friend sing elegy to their past member, melody more like dreadful crying mourning, I heard two, I was scared, couldn’t endure their howling that tear up ear drum. But I never thought any rock band could work a piece so sad and beautiful like this song, the melody, the lyrics, and sing out of authentic emotion.

Note:
Why I like Tang Dynasty Band, Again Band (Lun Hui), Cui Jian, Spring and Autumn Band, Xu Wei, Zheng Jun… and many many Chinese Rock and Metal bands. Oh, I love RocknRoll and metal, Led Zeppelin is the greatest, their music songs so different comparing to other bands, no disrespect to others, it’s just my opinion.

(Another note:

Why Rock is so widely accepted by people as an art?

There reasons:

Rock music involves in three art forms that rooted back to our art origin.

1) Music that played simple beats that appreciated by our ancestors, and anyone nowadays teenage would fall for it, from Blues and Folks that all goes back to African music. And no one needs any art education to appreciate Rock.
2) This form of music involves dancing, that in ancient time, all music are accompanied with dance.
3) Lyrics, simple poem or verse that can be sung by everyone and mostly all sing out aloud together, not Opera or musical shows that only a few professional can hit the melody and note.

In ancient time, people only have four activities, hunt, eat, party, sleep; just like today, we work, eat, (watch TV or play instrument or read…), sleep.

Three basic art form, music, dance and poetry all expressed in one form, usually after every dinner, and such art form all composed upon people’s daily work and life, like hunting, warring, harvest, death, of course after the dance, they have sex and go back sleep:) more like RocknRoll party today:)

So we probably all know why Rock is loved by every culture and everyone, it is our root.)

And Chinese rock band are inherited a treasure from our ancestors, the Chinese Poets!
First, the language is invented into each toned picture, and the poetic form is so easy to grow into a form, which means it’s much easier to write lyrics for one melody in Chinese. And not only that, all these artists and song writers have million poems resource to pick for lyrics, and all of them are educated in such system, and they are so talented that they don’t even realized that ancient poets already done the lyrics.

Also, 2008 Olympic ceremony, Mr. Zhang Yimuo done a great job, but without a deep art culture I don’t think any director can entertain audiences for 3 hours, maybe Mr. Shakespeare and a few.

Okay, let’s get back to why I like Chinese rock and metal, the sound and melody are young and fresh with beats that pumps my blood and bangs my head, the lyrics, oh mine the lyrics that these few creative artists put all great classical poems into nowadays music, that old wine into new wineskins:) god that’s rocking!

Especially, Tang Dynasty, not only they put classical poetry into their melody, they also use the traditional Chinese instruments in their thing, Guzheng, Guqin, and Again Lun Hui band use Pipa for one of their so-good song that called Wind Fire Yangzhou Road, that its lyric is poem of great Song poet. And all their songs sound so attractively from melody and lyrics.

I translated one of Tang Dynasty’s hot song, Epic, any reader would finds the lyric are unmatchable, only a few lyrics are poetic I find nowadays, Stairway is so good, Pink have some, and Hotel Cali is cool, and a few others. But Tang Dynasty really creative, I guess only Chinese like my age group would appreciate both their music and lyrics.

I put this song’s video link here and following a few their other good songs:

Epic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJwiv3du6N4

Silkworm

http://v.ku6.com/show/CXB1K13RfCnWeyDL.html

This is most attractive Rock Metal Piece I have ever heard!)

Sun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux-AlGIBpM0&feature=related

Pathway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnEMVEmLuT4&feature=related

A Dream Back To Tang Dynasty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk6OXjK1loQ&feature=related

Nine Fourth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSBmxxXXuwQ&feature=related

Moon Dream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-onpUWLJjk

Bright Moon Sends Love Note Across Thousand Li
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfMaKHYdfaI&feature=related

Choice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XFcJ35y_UY&feature=related

Time at My Heel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9JR3gA_2kw&feature=related

Soaring Bird
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywR6zknTvWA&feature=related

Farewell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-99gQRcVOI&feature=related

Legend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s15L6Hd-V0o&feature=related

Don't Go Hiding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DHdX3jorHg&feature=related

Black Humor
No Video (go check amazon cd 'Epic'; the opening scream, I saw Robert Plant:)

Their Discography:
Epic
A Dream Return To Tang Dynasty

Ps.
I am indebted too our ancient poets, as the way I look at and put down poems, but I know have not obtained all of their treasure yet, only their little toys, I am still a baby in poetry, I am only proud that I get their love to poetry and art that they pass down to me, even I don’t write or compose well, but the love they pass down and I hold is more than enough. Even though I would never look for a publisher, or published, or priced, prized or awarded, or whatever I am very much happy that I have love for what poetry and art what’s really worth.

I am sure Tang Dynasty people and artists and poets all appreciate Zhuo, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing poets. They are so great! They are the same as Homer, Shakespeare, Mozart, Beethoven… they all belong to everyone, west or east. Rockstars are the same!

My Chinese poem for this band:

贊唐朝樂隊
by Laijon Liu 20091217

長髮飄飄走四方
金聲高歌響路旁
雷電吉他翻雲雨
滾石鑼鼓震天河
古箏綿綿敘演義
絲絲舊琴泣知音
太陽送別異鄉客
婉啼月夢回唐朝

English Translation:

A Tribute to Tang Dynasty Band
By Laijon Liu 20091217

Their long hair flow everywhere they go
Their metal voice sings all along the road
Lightning guitar riffs bring cloud and rain
Rolling drum and gong unleash the Milky Way
Their guzheng echoes its waves, Epic retold
Their guqin strings vibrate, weeping for a friend
The Sun Farewell a Guest From Other Places
Beautiful Caw Moon Dream Return To Tang Dynasty

Note:
This poem is for a Hard Rock & Metal band
They are musician and poets,
And put Chinese poetry and traditional instrument
Into their progressive music art.
For more info. Search Amazon.com for
Tang Dynasty Epic
Tang Dynasty A Dream Return to Tang Dynasty

Chinese:

演义 Epic
唐朝 by Tang Dynasty Band

滚滚长江东逝水
Rolling rolling the Long River, to the east she elapses
浪花淘尽英雄
her spoondrift wash away all the heroes
是非成败转头空
Right and wrong, victory or lost all disperse as I turn back to look
青山依旧在
But green mountains still stand
几度夕阳红
And under the red setting sun, how many times we have viewed

白发渔樵江渚上
there’s a gray hair fisherman cooking in his boat
惯看秋月春风
He used to see the autumn moon and feel the spring wind
一壶浊酒喜相逢
A pot of cheap wine he greets his passerby with merry
古今多少事
And shares all the matters of past and present
都付笑谈中
That all become laughter and chat.

天下英雄
Heroes under heavens
气侠风雷自无敌
all brave with skill as wind and thunder, so invincible
义胆雄心应无惧
They’re righteous and ambitious that never be afraid

天下英雄
Heroes under heavens
忠直豪杰言无隐
all royal and frank, and models of their word
志垂日月保江山
their will hangs above as sun and moon, guarding the land
古今八风吹不动天地月
whether in past or now, winds never shake heaven, earth and moon
改尽这江山昔旧
they renew this land from the old of past
自古人生谁无死
Thru our history, no one shall forever stand
留取丹心照汗青
But a loyal heart always shines light into people’s mind.
纷纷世事无穷尽
All and all, this world and matters never cease
天地茫茫不可逃
Heaven and earth that no one can ever escape
古月怅然是尽非
And the moon of the past was not all different
今月风情往事怀
Tonight, she looks upon my cup like the past matters.

--------------

Paradise / Moon Dream
Chinese:
月梦寂沈沈
银霜茫茫玉魂飘散落
几多凄凉独步漫长宵
风过花零遥望月空鸣
你在何方珠碎点点清
玉水河塘鳞鳞月破去
心泉摇晃金宵对昨夜
明空浩荡残思追穹方
月已西往怎能忘记
你在身旁几度欢乐
几度忧伤怎能望昔夜
月影离合几多欢畅
几多迷茫风吹过
云影似梦怎能忘记
你在身旁几度欢乐
几度忧伤怎能望昔夜
月影离合几多欢畅
几多迷茫回目月高悬
箫诉流芳怎能忘记
你在身旁几度欢乐
几度忧伤怎能望昔夜

Ode to Eagle

2009-11-10T23:27:00.003-05:00

Ode to Eagle
By Laijon Liu 20091010

-O1-
Who are you, my love, soaring so high!
The god of all birds, a king of azure sky
On the precipitous cliff you make home
Off the lofty peak you leap a great dive
You call up the morning sun to ascend
And escort the moon where she roams
Earth revolves under your mighty talons
And heaven is for your wings to mete
-O2-
A pair firm claws, steel dagger sharp
Where your enemies find no escape
Above the vast land or the roaring sea
All livings are under your decree
Your eyes are made of pure gold
To see through the hour of dark night
Who dares to stare at the glorious sun?
And catch the true splendor of light!
-O3-
Upon the high rock you pick your nest
Above the deep sea you set window-view
And facing the cold winds you make love
There you raise young, hatch a brave heart
All worlds look up and envy your spot
But they never know how much you sacrifice
Your title and fame must cost so much
Upon that rocky cliff, in the gushing winds
-O4-
Lonesome and pride is the way of your life
It’s against your deity to group with a flock
No one dares to dictate your hour of flight
And no peak or valley is out of your reach
Toward the sun you stare and rise head on
And into the wintry wave you make a splash
White clouds are for your wings to smash
Rain and snow are your showers and bath
-O5-
Nature has preordained your tragic fate
Struggling since birth, fighting to become
Where your infant bed is a wrestling court
And then your test flight is a deadly dive
Yet you raise your hooked beak proudly
Stretch your broad wings measuring winds
Hop your muscular legs for a great leap
To aim the sun and answer the storm
-O6-
How calm you are, driving the winds above
Rise and fall freely, soar and turn with ease
Where in the sky you find dragon is a myth
And shadow of phoenix disappeared in sun
The idols on earth all become fairytale news
Only your wings and spirit are true examples
Death and fear can never conquer you in life
Dream and desires are all possible to reach
-O7-
Oh my great Bird, a miracle you pursue!
You’re hatched on cliff and born of storm
Sun above you and earth down below
Sky your lodge and death is like a home
In the gushing winds you howl battle cry
Into the cold waves you toy snowflake
Through the challenges you grow strong
And in turmoil and crisis you obtain peace
-O8-
Who is the maker of your striking shape?
Who gifted you a pair golden pupil
For the far vision and detail view?
Who gave you a pair brave wings
To set your faith fly and courage to dive?
Who made your nest on high cliff?
Who drove the winds and storms
And the red sun over the blue sea?
***Who made you, so great?***

500-Character Poem A Reflection on the Road from Capital to Feng Xian Town by Du Fu

2009-11-07T18:26:00.005-05:00

500-Character Poem A Reflection on the Road from Capital to Feng Xian Town
By Du Fu (712-770)
Translated by Laijon Liu 20091107

I am a common man of my hometown,
Now old, but more determined.
With a silly wish I held myself
To be a good servant in Emperor’s court.
Still never been received,
Yet I wrought with my gray hair.
Till my coffin closes, then all affair stop,
And I believed myself always,
That one day I should achieve.

All the years I worried about people,
With all my sighs and my heart burnt.
All my classmates laughed at me,
But I even strove more with singing.
I wanted to travel between rivers and seas,
Take leisure of sunshine and moonlight.
But I believe our emperor is graceful,
So I couldn’t let go this good chance.
Yes, there are talents filled today’s court,
We aren’t lack of pillars for our mansion.
Yet, the sunflower always beholds the sun,
And we can’t take away his natural character.

I don’t want to be like ants and worms,
Only care myself and the dwelling hole.
Nor I admire the great fish in the sea,
Liberally swims and makes his splash.
Because I’ve obtained my living purpose,
Is to strive for the best with what I have.
So with uprightness I worked alone to now,
Enduring all the hardship like dust in wind.
And now I’m a little embarrassed of myself
Comparing to those hermits in ancient time.
So I drink more to bring me some joy,
And sing aloud to shout away my sorrow.

My years liked setting sun, withered grass,
And strong wind above the hilltop gushing.
Gloomy sky with turmoil clouds those days,
I, a sojourner, got on my road in midnight.
Cold misty frosts, even my jacket string broke,
And my fingers I could not feel or bend.
By morning I arrived at the Li Mountains,
The emperor’s palace was above those hills.
The north winds blew the cold blue sky,
Each stair was slippery on cliff or in valley.
Yet I could still see the steam of hot spring,
Rising from the spears of countless guards.
Emperor and his officials were partying there,
Symphony of their musicians loudly echoing.
All the high ranking royals bathed together,
And their feast no lowly officers allowed to join.

The silk of our court all made by common maids,
And the collectors whipping their family to gather.
Ancient kings only gifted their official baskets,
So their people would not be too stressed.
If the officials really understood such concept,
Then why our emperor still gave away silk?
Oh, too many those people filled our court,
Even a righteous person feared to step in!
Not to mention the treasure of the court
All stocked in the royal family’s house.
The beautiful ladies in their palace, like goddess,
Burning incense all hours for their cream skin.
Marten coats for their guests to keep warm,
And with their instrument they sing a sad song.
Their guests enjoy the exotic cuisine,
And orange and fruit served fresh with frost.
Within their red mansion walls, meat stored to rot;
Outside on their sidewalk, bony men froze to death.
Luxury neighboring the withered so close,
Yet so different; oh, my heart wanes, I can’t express!

As I got on a carriage, heading to Wei and Jing River,
By the checkpoint they made us turn to another road.
All the rivers rushing from the western mountains,
Their source looked like from Kong Dong peaks.
For a moment, I thought the pillar of sky was falling.
It’s fortunate the bridge above the river was not broken,
She bore our carriage with cracking sound.
So we helped each other, carrying our own luggage
And walked across the bridge, over that rushing river.

My wife waited for me in Feng Xian town,
My nine children and I been cut off by storm.
What husband on earth would abandon his family
for such long period of time?
And I must rush to be with them
Together we in hunger and thirst.
And by my door I heard the wailing voice,
My youngest son died of hunger.
Even if I did refrain myself not to howl,
Still my neighbors couldn’t stop their sob.
How could I be a dad, being so poor!
That couldn’t bring back food to feed my son!
And I never knew that in autumn time,
A reaping season, poor people starved to death!

I hold a lowly position in government,
By law I’m tax exempt and no draft for war.
Now I reflect all my past matters I feel sad,
And common people even bear much more.
Those who lost their family and their house,
And faraway our soldiers in the battlefield,
Then my sorrow weighing over my heart
Like a mountain, or a flood immersing.
End

Poem Note:
People ask me what is one example of talented poets, Li Bai; but there are great poets, like Du Fu, who loved his people, his family, his wife, children, and his work and his poem. This is the best poem of Du Fu I personally praise, surely shown he was a follower of Confucius, he put all his wish and struggle for people. So every Chinese and poets respected him. A poet is emotional, always, he is sensitive to things, even to a dead leaf, or a blink of star, or to everything, so whatever a poet cannot stop writing is how he feels about things that pulls his heart string, but not every poet has a feeling for everything or everyone, even though he forges with his black art he learns from his bookshelf, a reader can discover thru his verses about something that not authentic. But this poem Du Fu has a great heart, and real feeling, a truthful friend for every reader, and all his poems so great with heart.

I don’t think there is any English translation for this poem yet.

Chinese Character and English Word Translate and Notes:
The following format is each line, one verse, 5 Chinese characters; second line notes
自京赴奉先县咏怀五百字
唐杜甫

杜Du 陵mountain 有has 布fabric 衣cloth，
Note: 杜Du陵mountain: a place where the tomb of Han Dynasty Emperor, Du Fu’s birth place.

老(old)大(adult/big)意(will)转(turn)拙(clumsy/dull)。
Note: As I get old even more stubborn

许allow身body一one何why愚foolish，
Note: Allow myself to be such foolish

窃privately比compare稷与and契。
Note: 稷与and契: names of officials of two graceful Emperors in Ancient time

居然actually成become濩?落fall，
Note: 濩?: Archaic character, something related to water that spilled out

白white首head甘willingly契agree阔broad。
Note: With gray hair willingly submit to work for every thing

盖cover棺coffin事affair则follow已end，

此this志will常often觊clear豁break。

穷poor年year忧worry黎元people world，

叹息groan肠intestines内inside热hot。
Note: Ancient Chinese believe emotion from belly

取笑jest同学schoolfellow翁old man，

浩grand歌song弥fill激烈passion。

非无not because I don’t have江river海sea志will，

萧洒natural and unrestrained送accompany日sun月moon。

生life逢meet尧舜君emperor，
Note: 尧舜: two most graceful emperors

不not忍bear便so永forever诀farewell。

当今today廊庙emperor court具instrument，

构construct厦building岂no云say缺lack。

葵藿sunflower倾lean/face太great阳sun，

物matter性character固hard莫no夺seize。

顾care惟alone蝼worm蚁ant辈the like，

但only自self求beg其its/their穴dwelling hole。

胡为why慕admire大great鲸whale，

辄always拟draft偃cease溟渤sea waves。

以according to兹now悟realize生life理reason，

独only耻shame事affair干dry谒call on。

兀兀stand upright遂then至to 今now，

忍endure为become尘埃dust没gone。

终eventually愧ashamed巢与and由，
Note: 巢与and由: two ancient hermits

未能cannot易change其their节joint of bone。
Note: someone don’t bend his bone, kneel down

沈deep饮drink聊merely自self适well，

放expend歌song颇quite愁sorrow绝end。

岁year暮sunset百hundreds草grass零wither，

疾风high wind高high冈ridge裂break。

天heaven衢thoroughfare阴gloom峥嵘lofty and steep，

客guest子son中mid夜night发start。

霜frost严severe衣cloth带belt断break，

指finger直straight不no得can结bend/join。

凌晨wee hours过pass骊Li山mountain，

御Imperial榻couch在at嵽嵲rainbow。

蚩尤especially塞fill寒cold空air/sky，

蹴蹋foot stepping崖cliff谷valley滑slippery。

瑶池Yao pool气air/steam郁gloomy律climate，
note: Yao pool, from Chinese myth, that located at Sky Mountain, where the empress of heaven party.

羽林Emperor’s guard相each other摩stand up戛spear。

君Emperor臣official留stay欢happy娱entertain，

乐music动move殷ardent樛trees bend downward嶱。
嶱: archaic, maybe something related to mountain that shake

赐gift浴bath皆all长long缨tassel，
long tassel: only High rank official wear long tassel

与attend宴feast非no短short褐jacket。
Short jacket: local officials wear

彤red庭court所that分distribute帛silk，

本root自from寒cold女woman出out。
Cold house woman: only rich women could afford enough wood to make their chamber hot in winter, as my personal experience, all women like hot not cold:)

鞭whip挞beat其their夫husband家family，

聚gather敛collect贡tribute城city阙wall。

圣holy人man筐篚basket恩grace，
holy man: indicates those graceful ancient emperor

实actually欲desire邦state国nation活live。

臣official如if忽understand至such理concept，

君emperor岂why弃give up此this物stuff。

多many士men盈fill朝廷court，

仁benevolence者person宜should战栗tremble。

况besides闻hear内inside金gold盘plates，
gold plate: emperor use for decoration

尽all在in卫霍Wei Huo室house。
Wei Huo, indicates the concubine’s family

中mid堂hall舞dance神仙goddess，

烟smoke雾mist散spread玉cream质skin。

暖warm客guest貂鼠marten裘animal coat，

悲sad管pipe逐chase清clear瑟se。
se: an instrument

劝persuade客guest驼camel蹄hoof羹soup，
soup or food material that carried by camel pass the silk road from west

霜frost橙orange压cover香fragrant橘fruit like orange。

朱red门gate酒wine肉meat臭rot，

路roads有have冻frozen死died骨bone。

荣prosper枯wither咫few尺feet异different，

惆怅melancholy难difficult再continue述narrate。

Continue later
北辕就泾渭，
官渡又改辙。
群冰从西下，
极目高崒兀。
疑是崆峒来，
恐触天柱折。
河梁幸未坼，
枝撑声窸窣。
行旅相攀援，
川广不可越。
老妻寄异县，
十口隔风雪。
谁能久不顾，
庶往共饥渴。
入门闻号咷，
幼子饥已卒。
吾宁舍一哀，
里巷亦呜咽。
所愧为人父，
无食致夭折。
岂知秋未登，
贫窭有仓卒。
生常免租税，
名不隶征伐。
抚迹犹酸辛，
平人固骚屑。
默思失业徒，
因念远戍卒。
忧端齐终南，
澒洞不可掇。
End

Chinese:
自京赴奉先县咏怀五百字
唐杜甫

杜陵有布衣，老大意转拙。
许身一何愚，窃比稷与契。
居然成濩落，白首甘契阔。
盖棺事则已，此志常觊豁。
穷年忧黎元，叹息肠内热。
取笑同学翁，浩歌弥激烈。
非无江海志，萧洒送日月。
生逢尧舜君，不忍便永诀。
当今廊庙具，构厦岂云缺。
葵藿倾太阳，物性固莫夺。
顾惟蝼蚁辈，但自求其穴。
胡为慕大鲸，辄拟偃溟渤。
以兹悟生理，独耻事干谒。
兀兀遂至今，忍为尘埃没。
终愧巢与由，未能易其节。
沈饮聊自适，放歌颇愁绝。
岁暮百草零，疾风高冈裂。
天衢阴峥嵘，客子中夜发。
霜严衣带断，指直不得结。
凌晨过骊山，御榻在嵽嵲。
蚩尤塞寒空，蹴蹋崖谷滑。
瑶池气郁律，羽林相摩戛。
君臣留欢娱，乐动殷樛嶱。
赐浴皆长缨，与宴非短褐。
彤庭所分帛，本自寒女出。
鞭挞其夫家，聚敛贡城阙。
圣人筐篚恩，实欲邦国活。
臣如忽至理，君岂弃此物。
多士盈朝廷，仁者宜战栗。
况闻内金盘，尽在卫霍室。
中堂舞神仙，烟雾散玉质。
暖客貂鼠裘，悲管逐清瑟。
劝客驼蹄羹，霜橙压香橘。
朱门酒肉臭，路有冻死骨。
荣枯咫尺异，惆怅难再述。
北辕就泾渭，官渡又改辙。
群冰从西下，极目高崒兀。
疑是崆峒来，恐触天柱折。
河梁幸未坼，枝撑声窸窣。
行旅相攀援，川广不可越。
老妻寄异县，十口隔风雪。
谁能久不顾，庶往共饥渴。
入门闻号咷，幼子饥已卒。
吾宁舍一哀，里巷亦呜咽。
所愧为人父，无食致夭折。
岂知秋未登，贫窭有仓卒。
生常免租税，名不隶征伐。
抚迹犹酸辛，平人固骚屑。
默思失业徒，因念远戍卒。
忧端齐终南，澒洞不可掇。
End

Chinese English Poem

2009-11-06T13:28:00.005-05:00

Talk about Avant-garde poetry, I did a poem that mixed Chinese and English into a 4 verse poem:)
it's not funny. I curse in two languages, and often speak the speech that each sentence constructed in two languages, I guess most emigrant know about this. So I figure why not try a simple poem that done a bilingual.

Chinese English Poem

昨夜獨坐drank more,
舉杯一曲Rock n Roll。
醉後put down詩一首﹐
Load up網上美名傳。

English:

Last Night Sat Alone Drank More
Raised Cup and Sang Rock n Roll
After Drunk Put Down One Poem
Load Up Online Spread my Fame

Yong Yu Yue (Forever Meet Melody)

2009-11-02T23:57:00.003-05:00

Yong Yu Yue (Forever Meet Melody)
By Li Qingzhao (1084-1155)
Translate by Laijon Liu 20091103

Setting sun like melting gold
Rosy clouds blanketing the blue sky
Where is the one in my thought?

Willows painted green
Smoke rising from every house
I played the plum melody non stop
But the spring understood me not!

Ah, January Fifteenth again
Night lanterns all lighted
Weather mild and warm
But how can we be sure
There won’t be sudden rains and wind?

My friends came and greeted
Riding in beautiful wagons
To their drink feast and poetry club
But I declined their invite

Oh, I still remembered the holidays
In our state of the good old days
So many, I skipped
Yet only prepared for this Lantern Day

The emerald pendant on my hat
Gold twist and silver trim jacket
And all the colorful strap and belts

But now, with my haggardness,
And this wind blown foggy hair,
How could I go out at this night?

It would be better for me
To just sit under the blind
And hear other’s laughter and chat.

Note:
Some say this poem was composed when the poet’s husband lay in sickness in other state.

Chinese:
永遇乐
李清照

落日熔金，
暮云合璧，
人在何处？

染柳烟浓，
吹梅笛怨，
春意知几许？

元宵佳节，
融和天气，
次第岂无风雨？

来相召，
香车宝马，
谢他酒朋诗侣。

中州盛日，
闺门多暇，
记得偏重三五。

铺翠冠儿、
捻金雪柳，
簇带争济楚。

如今憔悴，
风鬟雾鬓，
怕见夜间出去。

不如向，
帘儿底下，
听人笑语。

Drink and Talk

2009-10-27T12:22:00.004-04:00

Drink with
Good friends,
A thousand cups
Not enough.
Sharing
Different interest,
Half sentence
Is too much.

Song on the Platform of You State

2009-10-26T23:10:00.001-04:00

Song on the Platform of You State
By Chang Zi Ang (Tang poet 659-700)
Translated by Laijon Liu

Before me, I cannot see the past heroes
Behind me, I don’t see anyone following
In btwn the far heaven and vast earth
I myself wailing alone

Chamber Sorrow

2009-10-26T23:00:00.000-04:00

Chamber Sorrow
By Sheng Ru Jun (Tang Poet)
Translated by Laijon Liu

Oh, I cannot tell the wild goose
To carry a letter to my husband
And sorrow weighing down
Even a dream I cannot make
How I wished every night
To follow the lonesome moon
Travel across the far heaven
And spill out the bright light
Over my love one’s camp

Praise Willow

2009-10-26T22:34:00.000-04:00

Praise Willow
He Zhi Zhang (Tang Poet 659-744)
Translated by Laijon Liu

Green dress like a piece of giant jade
Myriad strings hanging down as skirt
Her thin leaves who’s the tailor of it?
Look, the Feb wind has a sharp scissor

Falling Leaves

2009-10-26T21:57:00.001-04:00

Falling Leaves
By Kong Zhao An (Tang Poet 577-622)
Translated by Laijon Liu

Early autumn shook the leaves
Falling like the heart of drifter
Fly and fly, they try and strive
Ah, they miss their home tree

I want to make Cumin and Stardreamer proud, so I translated this Tang poet’s poem and share with everyone. I read their poetry everyday, coz I don’t have wife and life:) so from now on, I find some good ones, especially no one ever translated before, I translate it and post here also. About.com better thank me, and raise your banner ads’ price:) ha ha ha

I Drink and Write

2009-10-22T00:25:00.001-04:00

I Drink and Write
By Laijon Liu 20091022

I drink and write
It feels so right
Don’t prep my thought
Just ride with the flow

After some dose
I see all the pictures
That makes me dizzy
Yes, I’m in cloud and touching stars

Poetry is so easy
I meditate it with life
When my heart aches
The rhythm naturally tuned

I can forget the tones
I can erase the image
Just baby talk, random thoughts
Still make you woozy

Like seeing the sun
Rising from west
Like seeing the moon
Smiling in the pond

Yeah, I must drink and write
So my mind speaks truth
Like my absurd verses don’t work
And this world in a bottle of hope

Beautiful Dream

2009-10-20T00:10:00.001-04:00

Beautiful Dream
By Laijon Liu 20091019

Brewing my dream
In the fifty states,
With a thread of grief
I drink and fall asleep.
On the bank of river
I look for my goddess,
Only to roam alone
In cloud and peach bloom.

Heavenly mountains,
Crystal ice, and stars
Shining bright as plates;
Deep blue oceans
With their roaring waves,
Splashing toward high.
Oh, this great bird
Spreads his giant wings
To strike myriad miles
For the limit of sky.

Note:
A translation of my own Chinese poem.

Chinese:
美梦

美梦酝酿五十州, 一丝牵挂醉中眠.
湘水湖畔思神女, 独游云梦卧桃源.
天山冰晶星如斗, 琼海洋溢浪涛天.
此鹏欲展鸿飞翅, 挥翼万里志无边.

The Spring Dream

2009-10-15T15:28:00.005-04:00

The Spring Dream
By Laijon Liu 20090604

The spring dream
Twenty years ago
Was blown away
By the east wind
The flowers shed
And petals fallen
But lover abode
Still grieving that
Ah, undying grief
I dare not to tell

Poem Note:
Those young faces in the crowd;
Red petals on a wet black bough.

I edited Pond's poem to explain the meaning of my poem, to record a historical event, to mourn for the fallen flowers, and report to reader for the present state, like so many ancient Chinese poems, that only composed for reader of future, that those past poets did not know, their descendants inherited all their great art and writing the same poem, that their future was not easy, just as their time.

二十年前初春夢﹐
東風吹去落花紅。
多情赤子今猶在﹐
無限愁緒不敢說。

Bridge

2009-10-14T00:46:00.003-04:00

Bridge
By Laijon Liu 20091014

I am the one under your feet
Where history and future meet
I am the one that lies across
In the air and over the sea

I am not like any window
That only allows you to look
But I invite you to walk upon me
And I am never locked or shut

Yes, thru me continents joined
Thru me cultures burn and melt
And thru me lovers hold hands
And experiment their first kiss

Thru me a new journey
And a new world to see
And at the end of every voyage
There's a friend waiting to greet

I swear I’m built for both sides
And I always stand firm in peace
And I let you reach your hope and dream
If you put your faith in me

Ode To A Little Mouse

2009-10-09T00:06:00.005-04:00

Ode To A Little Mouse
By Laijon Liu 20091009

'Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.'
- Shakespeare, The Tempest Act 2, scene 2, Line 40

01
In my tiny room, there’s a little mouse
A New Yorker he is, a resident of Queens
He’s lonely like me and nameless he is
He works all the days to see who he really is
Oh, my heart cries for you, my little friend
This world too big and your life too frail
In my roommate rooms they set the clip traps
And in each corner they prepared your last meal
But you still, running wise and boring brave
To be a master of your own fate, not a slave!

02
For that sweet cheese cake! You try to nose
For whole life among the rooms and traps
Oh dream of fulfillment, drives living purpose
That one day you may gain fat like those rats
But no, you are in my room, and I only have books
This is not a restaurant, nor subway tracks
And out there on street, too many wild cats
They are not house pets that live on diet food
So, you must be patient and do with what you have
For you haven’t met any girl mouse yet

03
Oh, love for a little mouse? Too unreal!
How that 2-second intimacy can make you feel?
What’s after, still loneliness, emptiness,
Such state even human wail and gods pale
In this mice and rats crowded capital,
How many couples truly find their nest?
Once you were born into this cold world
Then you must walk and search alone
Btwn the walls, sneak in and out the pipes
And hoping to find your sweet cheese

04
Go! You little mouse! Be smart and brave!
Don’t just hide in my tiny room
Even though you moved in here first
But your life is not staying here and starve
Even though I never wanted to trap you
Nor I’m too wicked to poison you
Still, you must go out and be stuffed
For all those trashes are waiting for you
And you might be luckier than me
Soon walk with a mouse next door in flowery forest

05
Yes, you already used to be in this room
And I dare not to claim what I paid it’s mine
So all these years I let you stay in your corner
And marked the spot with a cookie each month
But it does not mean that I’ve accepted you
Or changed my mind to receive you as my pet
Mice and rats are not equal with dogs and cats
Not even people on earth obtain same rights
Maybe only in sleep or heavy drinks
So we can all be a big happy family

06
How many times at night I wake up
Fearing you may sneak into my bed
And how many times I almost hit you
That you broke the law of this room
Even though I’m a guy that fears a mouse
But in madness men can march out for kill
And not to mention if I find girlfriend, God willing
Then I’d be forced to set poison and traps
Haven't you ever heard that in love
A woman is more jealous than death?

07
Oh, you little mouse, sad and alone
All your life you search in hunger and fear
But tonight, you are so lucky
You’ve got a safe corner, no trap or death cookie
A poet observes you with his drink
And writes a few drunken verse in ink
Not for his love, not for any girl
But only for you, my roommate and companion
How are we two miserable creatures
Under same shelter, sharing same roof!

08
Let’s enjoy this moment for a temporal rest
Before sunlight shoots into this tiny room
You little mouse has worked all night
Yet must get up in hurry for a weary road
Man labors from cell to cell
To chase his dream in tunnels of world
Mouse seeks from pipe to pipe
To look for his cheese in the hall of trap
And both come back in dust and dark
Till one day we must part for love or death.

2009-10-07T18:27:00.001-04:00

Girl In Her Greenhouse
Cui Jian
Translated Laijon Liu 20091007

I walked by your side; I couldn’t say a word to you
I dared not to raise my head, to see you, oh your face

You asked me where I go. I pointed to the sea
Your surprise seemed you were admiring me

But you drew me into your greenhouse,
And I couldn’t escape from the fragrance,
I didn’t know why, I forgot my direction

You said I was the toughest in the world
And I said you were most graceful on earth
You didn’t know why, you felt like you were a bloom

You said I was the toughest in the world
And I said you were most graceful on earth
You asked me to abide here, you wanted me to be like them

I looked at you and said, oh, no, I could not
I wanted to go back, I wanted to return

But I knew I couldn’t walk away from you, oh, girl
But I were willing to go back, to return

But I knew I couldn’t walk away from you, oh, girl
But I were willing to go back, to return

But I knew I couldn’t walk away from you, oh, girl
But I were willing to go back, to return

Video Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubBDKL86rTA&feature=related

I Have Nothing

2009-10-07T16:46:00.001-04:00

I Have Nothing
By Cui Jian
Translated by Laijon Liu 20091007
　
I can’t stop asking you
When we’ll get together and go
But you are just jesting　
That I have nothing
I want to give you my pursuit　
And also my freedom
But you are just jesting　
That I have nothing

Oh, when we’ll get together and go
Oh, when we’ll get together and go

The ground under our feet is moving　
The streams by our side are flowing
But you are just jesting　
That I have nothing
Why you can’t stop jesting　
And why I must hold tight my pursuit
Maybe in front of you I will forever
Have nothing

Oh, when we’ll get together and go
Oh, when we’ll get together and go

I tell you I’ve been waiting for so long
And I tell you my last wish
I will grab your two hands 　
And drag you along our way　
But now your hands are shaking
And now your tears are streaming
Maybe you are telling me
that you love me because
I have nothing

Oh, when we’ll get together and go
Oh, when we’ll get together and go

Note:
This is Chinese Rock Song Anthem, June 4th students picked this song for their Freedom Anthem. Every Chinese can sing this song. A great example of Chinese poetry uses love content to reflect for political statement for people and state.

Video Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm30a-bk0BM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHwfCf2spTk

一無所有

作詞：崔健　
作曲：崔健

我曾經問個不休　
妳何時跟我走
可妳卻總是笑我　
一無所有
我要給妳我的追求　
還有我的自由
可妳總是笑我　
一無所有

喔　妳何時跟我走　喔　妳何時跟我走

腳下這地在走　身邊那水在流
可妳卻總是笑我　一無所有
為何妳總笑個沒夠　為何我總要追求
難道在妳面前我永遠　是一無所有

喔　妳何時跟我走　喔　妳何時跟我走

(腳下這地在走　身邊那水在流　腳下這地在走　身邊那水在流)

告訴妳我等了很久　告訴妳我最後的要求
我要抓起妳的雙手　妳這就跟我走
這時妳的手在顫抖　這時妳的淚在流
莫非妳是正在告訴我　妳愛我一無所有

喔　妳這就跟我走　喔　妳這就跟我走

(腳下這地在走　身邊那水在流　腳下這地在走　身邊那水在流)

喔　妳這就跟我走　喔　妳這就跟我走
喔　妳這就跟我走　喔　妳這就跟我走
喔　妳這就跟我走　喔　妳這就跟我走

Cui Jian Chinese Rock Song Lyric - Fake Monk

2009-10-07T14:27:00.004-04:00

Cui Jian Chinese Rock Song Lyric
Fake Monk
Translated Laijon Liu 20091007

I want to walk from south to north
And I want to walk from light into dark
I want all people to see me
But don’t know who I am
If you see that I’m a little weary
Then please pour me a cup of water
If you have fallen in love for me
Then please kiss my lips
I have this pair hands, I have this pair legs
And I have all these hills and rivers
I want everything and all things
But I don’t want hatred and grief
If you dare to love me, then don’t regret
Coz one day I must leave here to far away
I don’t want to stay at one place
And I don’t want anyone to follow me

I want to walk from south to north
And I want to walk from light to dark
I want all people to see me
But don’t know who I am
I only want to see your fair face
But please don’t tell me you bear too much pain
Coz I only want the water of heaven
but not your sad tears
I don’t want to believe there’s devil
Nor I want to go against anyone
You will never know who I truly am
And never see thru my fake skin

I love this song, one of good Cui Jian songs that I listen every morning. Cui Jian is one of my idols, a great musician and poet, his songs are not only rock in classic group, but very spiritual and poetic that many rock star can’t match.

His Song Video Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FHLJf-g0cc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcEH3geKIYU

Chinese:
假行僧

我要从南走到北
我还要从白走到黑
我要人们都看到我
但不知道我是谁
假如你看我有点累
就请你给我倒碗水
假如你已经爱上我
就请你吻我的嘴
我有这双手我有这双腿
我有这千山和万水
我要这所有的所有
但不要恨和悔
要爱上我你就别怕后悔
总有一天我要远走高飞
我不想留在一个地方
但不愿有人跟随
我要从南走到北
我还要从白走到黑
我要人们都看到我
但不知道我是谁
我只想看到你长得美
但不想知道你在受罪
我想要得到天上的水
但不是你的泪
我不愿相信真的有魔鬼
也不愿与任何人作对
你别想知道我到底是谁
也别想看到我的虚伪

Poets Should Never Drive

2009-10-05T21:47:00.002-04:00

Poets Should Never Drive
By Laijon Liu 20091005

Poets should never drive
They’re dangerous folks
Most of them drinkers
And many are suicidal

Highway is not for them
To let out their road rage
And high-speed internet
Won’t survive from their flame

These egotistic animals
Live in Bipolar states
And their psychotic speech
Will crush any stage

Their sword tongue, razor lips
And fighting bulldog attitude
Would smash anyone
Not even God will stay alive:-)

But there are times of peace
When they do nothing
See nothing and hear nothing
While musing behind the wheel:-)

Again, poets should not drive
Coz they intend to hit anyone:-)
Whether on street or in speech
So if you can’t avoid them, then pay:-)

Tang Poet Wei Zhuang

2009-10-01T23:43:00.002-04:00

Pu Sa Lan
Wei Zhuang (Tang)
Translated Laijon Liu 20091001

In her chamber alone, my lady must be sad
Incense burning thru the scarce smoke
Candle lights dancing in their glow
Her bed curtains half rolled and hanging

That wane moon night I departed
She stood by the garden gate
In tears she bid farewell

Now she must hold her gold-green pipa
And playing the four strings
Like an oriole sings his song:

My love, please come back
Please be home soon
Your lady awaits you
Behind the green pane she sits
And her beautiful visage
Like a flower blooms

-----------------------------------------------------

Huan Xi Sha
Wei Zhuang (Tang)
Translated Laijon Liu 20091001

Night and night, I stay up
Hearing the watchman beats the hour drum
Alone and sad, I stand on the balcony
Staring at the bright moon

I guess my love is thinking about me now
Worrying if I have enough blankets
To keep my bed warm

My small living room, suffocates me with sorrow
And I sink like I am drowning in the sea
Hour by hour I read her letters
Again and again

Oh, I wonder when we can reunite
And hold hands, together to Chang An

To My Bright Star

2009-10-01T00:01:00.002-04:00

To My Bright Star
By Laijon Liu 20091001

I watched the bright star last night,
He drifted across the screen of my mind,
Lightened my tiny dark room n time.
How lonely he was, and how shiny
His steadfast fire glared in a poet’s heart.
Like a butterfly he danced in pair,
As a nightingale he sang his sweet tune,
To his love he asked for mending thread,
But still, he was steadfast, and alone
Left home with a lock of her hair.
How blessed he embraced and kissed,
And sank deep together in a warm dream.
Tonight I look up toward sky, for the stars,
To catch their flare n find my crash, till death.

Poem Note:
I watched the movie Bright Star,
To admire Keats’s talents and his love affair.
Not to brag, when he moved into the dark small room, I saw myself.
I pray his true life were the same as this movie portrayed,
And according to his poems I guessed he experienced all such,
That made me happy for him, but sadder for myself.
All great songs touch heart, and the singer must be heartbroken,
So he maybe able to heal others. There is no other way.

I Am Content in This Fight

2009-09-29T22:25:00.003-04:00

I Am Content in This Fight
By Laijon Liu 20090929

I am content in this fight
That I’ve forever striven
With my strength n cries
I dance like I’m in a ball
So the result I fear not
Whether victory or defeat

I’m settled wherever I be
Coz I always stand tall
No matter how often I fall
And how far I’ve crawled
I am prepared to face all
Whether heaven or hell

I am ready to face this moment
Whether sunshine or rainstorm
Coz my past hunts me no more
And future I don’t worry at all
So I walk on with a smile
Whether life or death

I care not what they call me
Whether lunatic or a loser
Let them jest and ignore
Like they hold joystick of Tao
I just proceed what I believe
Whether foolish or wise

Note:
This is my poem that says some characters about me.
It’s a self-portrait.

Wuling Spring By Li Qingzhao

2009-09-29T18:10:00.000-04:00

Wuling Spring
By Li Qingzhao (1084－1151)
Translated Laijon Liu 20090929

Wind stopped, incense bunt to dust,
And flowers shed their petal over my desk,
Day is getting dark; I am weary to do up my hair.
All his things are still here, but he is gone,
It feels like everything is stopped,
Before my word comes out,
My tears already streamed out.

I heard about the beautiful spring scene
At the Couple Streams,
I want to row my boat there to see if it’s true,
But I am so afraid that my boat is too small,
And she can’t carry too much sorrow.

武陵春
【宋】李清照
风住尘香花已尽，日晚倦梳头。
物是人非事事休，欲语泪先流。
闻说双溪春尚好，也拟泛轻舟。
只恐双溪舴艋舟，载不动许多愁。

My New Poster!:)

2009-09-24T23:56:00.006-04:00

I have just visited a website, omg! All the old propaganda posters!!!
So I edited three with my mug shot on these.
Website:
http://www.maopost.com

ps. now it's art to put my head on these, 50 years ago in China, if I doctored above pictures, death sentence.

So now I am happy to be on the posters!:)

Two Photos

2009-09-24T18:18:00.004-04:00

One is the happiest goddess on earth, another a great thinker.
I must learn from these two, they hold wisdom of happiness.
The photos are from Picture People magazine that mailed to me.

Inner Voice

2009-09-22T23:26:00.000-04:00

Inner Voice
by Laijon Liu 20090922

Hey! Stranger! Listen!
Shh-
Let me tell you a secret.

I am God!
No? You don’t believe me?

Then I am Satan!
No? You don’t think so?

Then I am you.
No? I am not?

Then I am the one
Who’s inside of you
And speaking to you.

This Is Not About Healthcare

2009-09-21T23:54:00.001-04:00

This Is Not About Healthcare
By Laijon Liu 20090922

This is not about healthcare,
This is about money!
That billion dollar industries
Fighting to hold American money.

The problem is not that our moms
Who are waiting for cancer treatment,
Neither about our kids who’re dying
From Leukemia and other disease

This is about those senators
Who desperately cry out “Nay!”
To protect their contributors
And their richly donated fund!

This is not about saving life,
This is about expense!
That such budget system is controlled
By the big Corps and their barking dogs.

The stake is to double the income
From their customers and Uncle Sam
So this way they can insure
All their well-beings and their pockets

Breasts cancer, cut them off;
Bone disease, walk it off;
They insure their dogs are fully covered,
The rest, sell your house or pray to God:)

Note:
To avoid unnecessary complaints and opinions and threat email, I must state this poem is just personal opinion after one pack of beer. I try to avoid all political poems, or a poem that involved politics, but I cannot just watch the sick people are dying and professionals just watching and say sorry you are not covered for treatment, would they say that to their mom? Or kids? If they all got dying disease?... I guess this battle looks like how should a big chunk of money be spent, but I know one thing might take most people to decide if their family members get dying disease, they probably sell their house and jewelries to race against time to save their love ones, they probably wouldn’t do many weekly or monthly joint-meeting to discuss a better way (money-wise-plan) to save their ma or sweet baby or their one-to-be-with wife. I just want to jot down this first thought poem for those who are rushing to be cured or waiting to die, while a few who playing this like an usual game. Averagely 45000 American die of lack of healthcare each year, wow, those poor people who cannot make a living, and die not of disease, but lack of healthcare. Oh, they are the casualties of war, a business and political war.

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall

2009-09-14T09:44:00.002-04:00

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall
By Laijon Liu 20090911

Mirror, mirror, on the wall
Who is the fairest in the world?
My soft cream skin white as snow
And dark long hair like ebony wood
The bodice laces of silk I fashioned
To tie you up and cut off your breath
The glistening comb I carved it to sell
To brush off your thoughts and all your hair
And the green apple, the work of my art
Holds a red cheek of sweetest death
Your glass coffin and seven candles illume
There your beauty sleeps and never resurrect
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
Who is the greatest among all?

Note:
I wanted to write about pride and envy for sometime, and I feel that pride always goes with envy, usually shows on someone holds great talents like artists, writers, musicians… those very creative people. After some weeks of finding, I revisited the beloved story of Snow White that I read when I was a kid. And immediately the urges of being in the character of the envy Queen (Snow White’s step mother) came upon my mind. She must be an artist in business, or a poet or writer who wanted to outshine all others, or someone held great talents but was fatal with her pride and envy (she’s fashion designer, she made colorful silk bodice laces that can cut off your breath; she’s good sculptor, she made the glistening comb that with magic of death, and she’s bio-chemist that only the red skin part of her apple kills you, you think Jan Davidszoon painted the fruit that you want a bite, but the envy Queen produced real poison apples), so all her beauty and feature, and talents she worked to beat down her ‘competitors’, too sad, she never realized that for beauty there is no judging, there is no first nor second nor third, every artist is unique, every poet speaks distinctive voice, yet they all have their weakness and strength. Snow White was pure and naïve, she was tempted by the beautiful laces, the glistening comb, and the artful apple;( she couldn’t help it, for she was a pure lover of art) she died three times, yet revived. And I feel her character is more beautiful than her appearance, I guess that might be the original purpose of this story, what’s more beautiful than purity? Even her corpus does not rot but fresh, so her beauty remains, like she never dies…. There is also another metaphor for aesthetic view of inspiration for artists, the biological mother of Snow White who sits by her window and sews, her aesthetic inspiration is from outside her window, she is humble and always recognizes the beauty of her outside world (the snow, the blood, the ebony), so her wish and faith begets her fruit (Snow White); but the envy Queen (Snow White’s step mother) can only look into her mirror(self-adored but not-narcissism), she realizes her weakness, yet she cannot learn better, coz she can only get her inspiration from herself, the mirror. Two queens and Snow White are artists, three different views and attitudes toward beauty of art. I think every artist should see two persons in her mirror, Snow White and her step mom hauling and pulling each other’s hair and cat-scratch fighting against each other, sometime Snow White on top, often the envy Queen beats the crap out of Snow White:)

Choosing Fruit

2009-09-02T10:05:00.003-04:00

Choosing Fruit
By Laijon Liu 20090902

Fruit, all shapes and sizes
Red, yellow and green…
In every land and corner
They grow to fill our space

And we, human beings
Live upon this food source
So we plant them in our garden
And bargain for them in market

When I was a little kid
My mom taught me a skill
That every child must learn
How to pick a good fruit

Each their kinds are different
According to their nutrients
And their skin and sizes
Do tell their story and state

So now I am an expert
A specialist on choosing fruit
I read their color, feel their body
Smell their scent to judge them

And daily I go to the market
Standing by the piled up tables
Examining each of them
Like some sort of ritual

They should be natural
No chemical or biocide
They must not be hard
And should be fully grown

But sometime I do wonder
If we pick all the good ones
Then where the rest should go?
Those ones aren’t so perfect

Those ones that ripe early
That we didn’t catch up to gather
And the ones were not ready
But we plucked them off anyway

And poor ones never met good soil
Been sprayed every damn week
And not to mention the ones were taken
Tossed into our truck for a bumpy road

What would happen to them?
Those should be nurtured by nature
And each of them ought to be perfect
But tragically failed by our cause

Should they just pile up on our stands?
Laying miserably for a clearance price?
And still be abandoned again and again?
Then waiting their sad life to rot away?

For all the years I picked the best ones
To follow this concept of living
But recently I’ve just realized
That we are all piled up on the stand!

Dating Is So Difficult For Me

2009-08-20T09:35:00.003-04:00

Dating Is So Difficult For Me
By Laijon Liu 20090819

Dating is so difficult for me
It’s like a young poet aiming for a good poem
For me, being a six ft. and size six shoes
That there’s really nothing to brag about

So I could only focus on my skills
Like making a good image and sweet lines
And in the morning I practice singing
At night I would work out my form

And on weekend I’d go shopping
For the dirty Levis, and blue suede shoes
So I could get myself into the club
To draw your eyes, heart or hands

But sometime I really do wish
That dating is simple as writing & reading poetry
On that very first date we meet
We can just strip off, all naked

Who Wants To Live Forever?

2009-08-19T09:41:00.002-04:00

Who Wants To Live Forever?
By Laijon Liu 20090818

Who wants to live forever?
Like a vampire never dies
All the meanings of life
Vanished into thin air

Like gods we sit in eternity
Drinking our lust to get by
Our past never be adored
And matters are all waste

We never need to strive
Or catch time by rush
And our fate and chances
Like seasons circle around

No, we don’t urge or yearn
Nor taste any griefs or lost
And all the senses of existence
Become sex without love

Oh, we wish we never die
So we can enjoy forever
But only death reminds us
The value of present time

Note:
Behold the present moment, for each second is eternal.

Give Myself a Little Break

2009-08-06T14:11:00.000-04:00

Give Myself a Little Break
By Laijon Liu 20090805

I’m too tired of walking
Too tired of searching and working
I’m gonna lie down for a while
Don’t care if a train runs over me

I’m gonna lock myself in today
And stay in my room all night
Just listen to music till dawn
Don’t care if this ghetto house is on fire

I’m gonna let go of myself
Just to loose myself for once
Not to worry about bread or milk
And not to be bothered by any thoughts

I’m gonna stop all my believing
That this life is about chasing dream
Coz in the end of our journey
Not everyone all reach it

I’m gonna quit asking girls to go out
Coz they’re gonna say “No” anyway
Who wants to hold hands with a loser?
Or be crazy enough to marry poverty?

I’m gonna quit my shitty job
And tell all the collectors to fuck off
Coz in this game of trickery world
None of us gets a fair rate

I’m gonna withdraw all my savings
And eBay all my books and CDs
Gather up all my five hundred bucks
For a sky diving without a parachute bag

And I’m gonna shut my weary eyelids
Just to give myself a little break
And if God awakens me some day
Then I’m gonna recite Him this poem

Drink Alone Under Moonlight (Sad Version)

2009-08-03T09:44:00.002-04:00

Drink Alone Under Moonlight (Sad Version)
By Li Po
Translated by Laijon Liu 20090803

Among the flower bush
I set a pot of wine
At this midnight hour
I drink alone again

So I raise up my cup
To invite the bright moon
And bow down my head
To greet my shadow friend

But how the moon in sky
Knows about the taste of wine
And my shadow just follows
To wherever he doesn’t understand

Still, the moon and my shadow
Are my temporal friends
And at this short spring season
We must make joy for all us

So I sing out aloud
The moon tangoes and waltz
And I rock and swing
My shadow rolls and disperses

O at this wakening hour
We share our love and pleasure
But after we sunk in drunkenness
We all separate toward each road

How we wish to be together forever
On this mutual voyage
And wait for the date we sh’d meet
In that far vast Milky Way

Note:

I have done translations on this poem before, but never satisfied.
Coz I felt I could not bring out the loneliness and sadness,
But this translation is really closer to Li Po’s mind state.

Reflection

2009-07-27T09:29:00.001-04:00

Reflection
By Laijon Liu 20090725

Plath says mirror tells truth
But eyes can be deceitful
How we stand in front of it
Seeing same picture everyday

We first always see a youngster
Then a fine lad or a fair maiden
Like God we adore our look
That moment seems eternal

But as our years flow by
We somehow never realize
How different we have become
How gradually, and so suddenly

The face of a familiar stranger
Pierced into our woken mind
Then memories like old photos
Comparing with current evidence

Yet, mirror remains faithful
And silently reflects our image
Only we, staring and pondering
Over our past and unreal present

Thru our eyes we perceive
And mind searches or defines
Who that person really is
In this mirror of flying time

Chinese:
反射

普莱丝说镜子说实话
但眼睛却会欺骗人
我们站在它的面前
每天看着同样的照片

我们总是先看到一个少年
接着是一个俊男或美女
像神一样我们爱慕着我们的容颜
那时, 我们好似永恒的

随着年岁的流逝
我们却从未发觉
我们变得多么的不同
逐渐的, 却又突然的

一个熟悉的, 陌生的面孔
刺入我们刚被唤醒的脑中
接着, 回忆象破旧的照片
与所见的证据作比较

但, 镜子保持着它的忠诚
默默的反映出我们的形象
只有我们, 还在凝视和沉思着:
我们的过去, 和这不真实的现在

通过眼睛我们感知
经过大脑我们搜索或定义
那人到底该是谁
站在这时光的镜中

Civilization

2009-07-16T09:51:00.004-04:00

Civilization
By Laijon Liu 20090715

Paiting: Manet's Olympia

In between the streaming cars
I stand alone, posing like a supermodel
And waving with my glamorous smile.

The gray pavement is my silver runway,
And street lights glaring on my long hair.
My pink hand bag stores our protection,
And I’ll make you feel good at any night.

Yes, I am a street fairy,
I’m goddess in bed,
And I’m your seventy dollar baby.
If I really liked your hearty offering,
Then I’d do you a dirty favor for thirty.

My high heel boots w’ red leather neck,
Look shining great by the black tire.
My tight mini skirt, and black net socks,
Never shy away from the stormy winter.

On the table I’m a young dancer,
And at home I’m an exhausted mother,
But tonight, I let you be my driver
Or I can be your back sit lover.

You can call me Mommy,
Or make me scream Daddy,
Or share all your heartbreak stories
Thru your psychotic revenge.

For cash I must bend over,
I must sing or moan or howl,
I must rock my hips and roll back and forth,
To turn you on and set you off,
To let all you men pick up what you have lost.

The queen size bed is my living stage,
For each show I must nail my acts in sweat.
The wet sheet marked by all past stains,
That reminded our history and violent affairs.

No, showers cannot cleanse,
Soaps do not wash away,
The deeds and fears I have endured,
Only alcohol and tears would drown me,
So I can sink deep in sleep
And run away from my hunting thoughts.

Oh, I sold my body for soul,
I traded my eternity for choice,
I collect all the tips to buy hope.
I strip off and kneel down,
I beg around naked,
And exchange in truth,
But no one in this dealing world
Has much left to console.

Christ died on the cross,
He’s resurrected in books,
And men are lost in streets,
And in market place they’re waiting
Oh that second coming of God, seems at halt.

So I must be my savior for now,
I must be a savior for myself.
I cleanse men’s feet with my hair,
I feed babies upon my breasts,
And I give boys their motherly love
That this world never provides.

I’m a sweet little girl, holding a lollipop;
I’m a beautiful lady in red, waiting in a bar;
Tonight, on this shaky bed, I lay myself flat.
For all my children and our better day,
I must lie quietly and calmly spread.

I’m praying for the lips of my date,
I’ve forgotten the taste of love,
And all I’ve had is this battling sex,
Till one day this body says
‘I am too old to sell’.

I watch the ruby sun goes down,
I greet the pale moon when she rises,
Up on my hills I lie down,
I see people climb on and fall off,
Then I take a deep breath,
I look up toward the dark sky,
And I yell out:
Tonight I survived again,
And tomorrow I get up, I live on!

Poem Note:
This poem was inspired by article I read online, one beautiful Chinese peasant girl came to one small city worked as a barber, so monthly she sent her saving back to support her old parents. Because of her fair look, many guys regularly visited the barbershop for haircut, and there were some rich business men too. Many gave her good tips and tried to talk her into some one-time or weekend work, she refused, because her moral standard also she was satisfied for her current income. Among all the guys, she met an innocent construction lad who from same village, and they fell in love and married. After one year, she went back home on vacation to company her parents for a health examine that they never done before, and doctor found there was some bad tumor growing in her father’ chest. So all her two years saving was just enough for the surgery and other treatment that required, she considered her family lucky, that her dad could live long and she was lucky to afford the cost. After she returned to her work for one month, her husband fell off from the high ladder and hurt his spinal cord, and paralyzed. His construction company paid his hospital and medical bills, but his compensation could not cover all other cost. She loved her husband, could not leave him as he strove for a quick divorce. But her salary and tips could not support her parents and her paralyzed husband. And among all her haircut customers, there was a city official, he was good looking and came to her shop every month for haircut, and he often threw her some invitation for party, she knew his intention, always politely refused if she could not avoid the conversation. After many customers learned her husband’s tragedy, the official spoke to her that he could use his relation to get her husband some job that work on phone for some government department. So she went dinner with him for further discussion. And after that, she believed he could get the job for her husband that should be good wage too. So she started to go out with him on weekends, and some nights after her work, she would first swung to his house and then back to her home. After two or three month, the guy told her that the position was taken. She got mad and felt cheated, threatened him that she would report. So the guy convinced her that he would pay her money if she remained quiet, otherwise she could not even fight the battle, because he knew everyone in the city, so she accepted, because she needed the money, and she changed her mind, and continued seeing the guy, but every time she got the payment she requested. For two years she had seen him, she never worried about the money to support her paralyzed husband and her old parents, and she shopped like a queen and got to travel with him for his conference to Beijing, Shanghai, Tibet, Mongol… all the big cities and beautiful sightseeing she dreamed to visited when she was a kid, and he treated her with kindness and respect, and sometime his colleagues and social friends asked him for her, she also went and back home with some good payment. Good fortune didn’t last long, he offended some nephew of some higher official, and he was stripped of his position and handed over all his papers and arrested for corruption reason, and she was also sentenced two years as his partner in crime, and all the recorded currency he paid her was equivalent to two year salary of regular government employee.

I don’t want to strictly follow the above story, but I also look at others, those who are not so lucky to choose and meet since their birth, but only to work on street every night to support her love ones or just her community college bill for a better hope of future, those women who are strong in faith and endurance and bold and brave, just like our civilization that crawled from history, under the abuse of greedy business and violent politics… and poor poets and starving artists who been kicked around between the publication circus like big red plastic bouncing ball, and not only that the eight hours whatever the won’t pay much lousy job they desperately hang on so they can go home and work on their love and dream for 3 hours of every night in between the tear drops to be the person they really are, facing all the unfairness, the bad start, poor childhood environment, and their trading surroundings, they or she still live on, such spirit inspired me to live on too I guess, at least for now:)

This poem is better read after reader carefully examined Manet’s masterpiece painting “Olympia”, zoom in the picture and focus on the facial expression of the girl, her eyes telling all her battling experience, yet she poses like goddess, coz she is.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Manet%2C_Edouard_-_Olympia%2C_1863.jpg

Poet Li Yu 937-978

2009-06-16T13:49:00.000-04:00

Poet Li Yu
937-978

He was a young king, and captured and surrendered when he was old.
He was one of the best poets for Chinese Ci poetry.
The following are three of his lyrical Ci poems.

Wave Wash Sand
By Li Yu (937-978)
Translated by Laijon Liu20090615

Outside the window, rain drizzling.
My silk shirt can’t stop the midnight cold.
In my dream, I forgot I was just a guest,
And still struck by the joy of moment.

Alone I stood on the balcony,
Staring at this limitless landscape blankly.
How are we, so easy to depart
And too difficult to meet?

The river slowly flows,
The flowers silently fade,
And the spring gone away.
Ah, heaven and world!

-----

Yu Mei Ren
By Li Yu (973-978)
Translated by Laijon Liu20090615

Spring blossom, and autumn moon,
They are circling,
But when shall they cease?

Memories, and the past,
How much are they,
That I should recall?

Last night, the east wind blew,
Again it past by my small chamber.
It reminded me of my home state,
That I dare not to think,
But the image
Still shining in the bright moon.

Those carved railings,
And pale marble stairs,
They should remain the same;
Only our young face changed.

Do not ask me
how much sorrow
I must bear,
It’s like a river
full of spring ripples
That rolling to the east.

----

Crow Cry Night
By Li Yu (973-978)
Translated by Laijon Liu20090615

The flowery trees faded their spring red,
Ah, too soon!
Yet the cold rains drizzle in morning,
And winds gushing at the evening.

Their rouge mixed with their tears,
Made me drunk, but when I can revisit?
Life always with griefs, is like a river
That always streams to the east.

Ode of Good Wife

2009-06-16T13:48:00.001-04:00

Ode of Good Wife
By Tang Poet Zhang Ji (768-830)
Translated by Laijon Liu 20090613

You know I have husband,
So you give me a pair of pearl.
I thank your touching thoughts,
So I tie them on my red coat.
My family dwells on tall building,
And they rest within the high walls;
My husband holds his sharp spear,
And guarding in the palace light.

I understand your heart clearly,
As reading the sun and the moon.
But I’ve sworn to serve my husband,
To be with him in life and death.
And now I must return these pearls,
They are bright as my falling tears.
I only have one thing to regret:
Why didn’t we meet before my marriage?

Note:
This poem is written in simple words, but talks about the controversial topic of love and marriage of society. From its surface that readers may think that poet praises the wife’s choice, but think again, the poet also feels pity about the wife’s condition that she choose to repay her husband to be with him, but refrain from thinking of her love that she really has feeling for. She knows how her family receives the benefit of her marriage, because her husband serves in palace. She is not materialistic at all, but she knows her husband loves her, so she has to hold her true will of pursuing for true love or someone she feels for. Yes, she is a good wife, for she put herself on the altar of love, yet she can’t just privately build another relationship with the man who gift her “a pair of pearl”. 62 Chinese characters that shoots a love movie, and he does not give his readers his answer, but only to raise a question. Not only that, this is a political poem, that the poet composes this poem to refuse a minister’s invitation to join the new political party in the Tang court, Chinese poet often use woman and man’ relationship for metaphor of political and social relationship (Like Contemporary Singer Cui Jian’s song ‘Have Nothing To My Name’), as officials to emperor, students to teacher… but even we just read the poem from its surface, still it brings the same question of principal of loyalty and friendship.

Chinese:
节妇吟
张籍

A Tiger in a Cage

2009-06-11T09:54:00.001-04:00

A Tiger in a Cage
By Laijon Liu 20090611

A tiger in a cage
A crown taken away
In forest he’s a king
But here he falls into Cat category

Children adore him all day
Dogs bark at him
Behind bars he laps his paws
Invincible daggers he’ll never use

What kind of beast
Waits for people to feed?
Isn’t he a sun-god?
Plays a devil role at night?

Beautiful camouflage coat
Should be an art of mystery
But now he can’t find a bush
To show off his magic mark

A pair sad and big eye
Golden and mild
No light of hope
Shining no pride, nor wild

Ah, he is a tiger
But caged behind bars
A god of mountain
Became a wooden idol

Note:
Society is a jail that locks our spirit and breaks down our will. I often feel I should accomplish more with whatever I have, but often feel that I’m unable to do. There is a greater force that shut all the doors right in front of me, till one day I stop hitting my head against walls, and I would walk by its side back and forth, couldn’t give up, and one day I might eventually become that brother tiger I met at the zoo years ago, that he stopped looking at the visitors, stopped walking by the bars to hope a miracle gate to be opened, just laying there half-sleep all day, given up dreaming the green forest, high mount top, deep valley, living springs, and never cared if he was alive or dead, or hungry or lack of mate or sex. He should have his kingdom and title, his deity and honor. I shed tears for him, sometimes I only pity him that he did not deserve such treatment, he was not human, he only took what he needed, but even so strong like him still could not break away from the bars we made, all of his identity stripped away, and such life even worst than death. There is a Chinese saying: “Rather live a day of tiger, should not suffer for hundred years like a sheep.” But in our zoo, no one can break loose, not even terrible beasts, maybe only Jesus. And a few prophets and suicidal poets? I doubt. They simply lived a short life in our zoo. Just an opinion.

Chinese:
一只笼中虎,
它的王冠被夺去
在林中它作王
在这儿却落得个猫科动物

孩子们整日围观它,
小狗们朝着它叫,
它在栏后舔着爪,
无敌的利刃它不再使用.

什么样的野兽
等着人来喂养?
难道它不是太阳之神?
在夜间充当魔鬼的角色?

它隐蔽的斑纹
是神秘的艺术,
但现在它却找不到一片树丛,
来炫耀它的绝技.

一对悲伤的大眼睛,
金黄且温柔,
闪着无望的光,
失去了野性, 也没有骄傲.

它是一只老虎
被关在了笼中.
一个山神
被做成了木偶像.

An Elegant Chrysanthemum

2009-06-09T09:43:00.003-04:00

An Elegant Chrysanthemum
By Laijon Liu 20090609

An elegant Chrysanthemum, she’s foreign and mild.
Her sunflower skin attired her delicate form,
And her golden face glares in the rose field.
Autumn is her spring, when all blossom fade,
Then she quietly spreads out her bloom,
As if she’s late, or too shy to compete.
East wind blows; she trembles, but hangs on.
West wind blows; she shivers, yet stands still.

Her root, sticking into her new planting soil
–the same red earth, that irrigated by history.
Whether east or west she seeds as she’s at home,
In valley or upon hill she’s determined to grow,
But in bloomy seasons she’s forbidden to show.
The east wind blankets the sky with clouds,
And the west wind pours its cold shower,
Yet she holds up her golden blaze unyieldingly.

Her petite body fits into her silky Qi Pao precisely,
A tiny gorgeous dress that nature precut it for her,
As her present and future predestined by her past,
As her identity tag always written by her birthplace,
But a flower can never choose her time and dress,
She can only pierce her root into earth and face heaven,
And stand up to four winds, night rains and morning frosts,
Till that first snow bury her unique smile.

Note:
This is an Asian American poetry, or Chinese American poetry, or accurately a Transplantation Poetry, that time, soil, history, identity or culture all mismatched by the process. And this poem only concentrates on inner experience, never compares the difference of surroundings, especially for a flower that transplanted back and forth.

“But in bloomy seasons she’s forbidden to show.” This phrase does not indicate any discrimination of the new soil, simply it means ‘by fate and nature’ or ‘by her inability to adapt the new environment’ that she cannot catch up the flowery seasons to bloom, even though she is eager to.

Chinese Chess

2009-05-04T10:06:00.003-04:00

Chinese Chess
By Laijon Liu20090503

Red and green pieces are in formation on each side,
And countless phenomenons struggling on one board.
River Chu and border Han where two brothers sworn,
But now they abandoned their word and started a fight.
Drove the chariots, led the knight to slain the advisers,
Lit the fire, loaded the stones to wipe out foot soldiers.
But I want to ask all the generals from history to present,
For whom you die and survive and for whom you win?

Note:
I used to play chess, played pretty well. Recently arranged my books, and dug up some manual and strategy books. And immediately a poem struck my heart as below (the Chinese poem that really naturally formed itself that I did not even have to put more thoughts to edit it). So I put it down and did English translate.

象棋

红绿两军分营垒, 万象征战一盘棋.
楚河汉界曾盟誓, 结义弟兄背信争.
驱车纵马斩士相, 火石发炮灭卒兵.
试问古今众将帅, 为谁生死为谁赢?