Long Yunnan Poems

Chinese Poets: English Translations II

These are modern English translations of poems by the Chinese poets Tzu Yeh, Lin Huiyin, Xu Zhimo and Huang E. These are poems about love, passion and beauty. 


Tzu Yeh (circa...

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China Tour Diary Moment #1
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KUNMING THOUGHTS


Sunday morning flight to Kunming city;
East bound to explore vignettes of China;
New vistas to sight, postcard memories;
Feast visual galore on tour agenda.

Yunnan province greets our earthly landing;
Brisk clearance and we...

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China Tour Diary Moment #2
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AZURE MOUNTAIN GORGE



Mile after mile we take the China roads;
Highways beckon now as our tour meanders;
Vistas speak beauty as coach bears our load;
Silence fills endow as wind blows plunder.


Springtime in China...

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SPRINGTIME MEMORIES



Mountain sentinels
By ancient town;
Clear waters cascade


Cobblestone streets
Winding pavements;
Trade offerings buzz


Fertile plains
Crystal clear waters;
Shady trees guard


Treasure-hunting stroll...
Through Lijiang Old Town;
Curiosity detours


So many things to see
Pleasant fare tempting;
Buying spree bargains


Artisans at work
Township flings open trade;
Silver metal...

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SORROWS OF THE WILD GEESE by HUANG E

These are my modern English translations of poems by the Chinese poet Huang E (1498–1569), also known as Huang Xiumei. She has been called the most outstanding female...

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Journey starts
Kunming portraits;
Highway song


Here old and new
Merge yet apart;
Vignettes juxtapose


China welcomes
Both ancient and modern;
Sign of the times


Tour group confronts
Unfamiliar grounds;
Rough edges grind


Quaint ways of old
Ancient tales displaced;
Modern day norms intervene


Spectacular vistas
Natural wonders;
Man seems insignificant


Flood tide...

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Motionless Shantelle
(The name Shantelle derives from the French  meaning “stone, stony place)


This is the story of  girl called Ashima, 
a beautiful Yi maiden and her beloved Ahei
Behind  mountains in her own land...

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Rainy deluge
Wetness clouds;
Moody day

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Sitting still
Thoughts subside;
Just being

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Stray stopover
Fluffy white snow;
Harsh elements

~~~~~~~~~


Death configures
Body at rest;
Time cut short

~~~~~~~~~


Snowy cascade
Fluffy feel;
Freezing here

~~~~~~~~~


Old-timers
Strolling hand-in-hand;
Lifetime of love

~~~~~~~~~


Brisk snowfall
Wild swirls here;
White splashes

~~~~~~~~~


Wet departure
Goodbye kiss;
Sad glimpses

~~~~~~~~~


Cold winds blow
Misty wild;
Wintry beauty

~~~~~~~~~


Old hands clutch
Strolling...

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(Note: I am going on a journey to Yunnan, China 
from May 18 to 28 -- to explore the wonders there.
My poetry posting will resume when I come back.)
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This tour trip
Special iterinary;
Yunnan beckons


Journey into
Mysterious realms;
Places...

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Early rising
Sparkling skies;
Sublime moment


Dearest and I
Get ready;
Tour group assemble


Tour coach speeding
Jerky vibes;
Highway pulsations


Chinese lady guide
Delivers tour highlights;
Foreign inspiration


Off we go
Profound talk;
Morning invocation


Lijiang Expressions
A theme park act;
Chinese folk drama


Expectations
Captive tour audience;
Lijiang story


Vast mountain range
Snow-capped peaks;
Silence speaks...

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Here and Now
Embrace being;
Sense becoming

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Know your heart,
Keep love true;
Joy tells on you

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Pain empties pocket
Failure tumbling down;
Broken heart in pieces

~~~~~~~~~


Brief interlude
Eternity awaits;
Now and Here

~~~~~~~~~


Twin souls meet
Glimpses of fate;
Love greets beauty

~~~~~~~~~


Sad countenance
Grief bleeds;
Sorrowful sculpture

~~~~~~~~~


Ending chapter,
Fresh start prompts;
New...

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(Dedication: For Zhou Junchen, Joseph
-- Our Chinese tour guide in Yunnan, who 
took us on an amazing journey, with 
kindness and great patience.)
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Yield to memories in pictures we take;
Urge strange new cultures to shape experience;
Note...

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(Dedication: To all readers and friends and 
the PoetrySoup community who find delight
especially in my Alliteration poems. Thank
You for your support.)
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Rich reason rhymes
Enter each etch
Affluence aligns
Play plunders patch


Real roaming raves
Endow embrace
Applause amaze
Prime precious pace


Reach respects...

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MOONGLOW 2


Words sculpt
Moments frozen;
Death stalking

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In one swift stride
Joy ride ends;
Broken romance

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Swift dash
Purpose crumbles;
Hide-and-Seek

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Bamboo screen
Leafy mirage;
Old China glimpses

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Peach blossoms
September harvest;
Longevity sums

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Arc of new moon
Bright aura spreads;
Lovers by old bridge

~~~~~~~~~


China Yunnan tour
Moments recalled;
Old town bazaar

~~~~~~~~


Dreams float
View the...

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Watching and waiting
Nothing happens;
Until just now


Trade buzz
Money changing hands;
Bazaar commotion


Old shophouses
Newly renovated;
Brisk traffic parades


Corner cafe
Stray conversations;
Small talk overhead


Spring time blossoms
Yunnan, China journey;
Leftover memories 


Midday siesta
Groggy with fatigue;
Day dreams of old China


Humid and hot sweat
Sun fires...

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Assuaging our thirst drives us in from the street,
shoppping fatigued; a welcome retreat
as a menu of delights rewards us with tea,
Black Yunnan for you and Silver Tips for me. 

Smooth liquid sunshine kisses Ruby Woo...

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Trust travel truce
Opt odd offer
Urge unfolds use
Ripe rides refer


Trail troubles team
Observe options
Unleash upstream
Raise real reasons


Thrust tender test
Outcome observe
Urgent unrest
Reach rich reserve


Touch tender trim
Ointment oils oomph
Use urge umpteen
Rest rowdy room


Travel trims tale
Open odd oar
User unveils
Rapture rides...

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