English Translations of Two Chinese Poems 04/2010

editorial assistance by Jon Lambert


 

 

translated by Sugar, 唐永平

 

Qing Yu An / Yuan Xi

by Xin Qiji (1140-1207)

 

Butterflies, snowy willows like gold.

Full of laughter, flying with subtle perfume.

Over one thousand times, I had tried my best to look for her.

But then when I suddenly turned around,

She was in the dim light of a few lanterns.  

 

青玉案/元夕

作者:辛弃疾 (1140-1207)

 

蛾儿雪柳黄金缕,
笑语盈盈暗香去。
众里寻他千百度,
蓦然回首,
那人却在,
灯火阑珊处。

 


 

 translated by Candy, 杨敬秋

 

 

 

 

Tian Jing Sha, Qiu Si

by Ma Zhiyuan; 1250–1321

 

At sunset, a crow who wants to go home rests on an old tree.

The old tree is circled with dry vines.

A stream flows slowly beside a small bridge;

in the stream is the reflection of a few house.

There comes a lonely horse along a desolate old  road.

In the fall, bleak winds from the west blow.

The sun has set.

Wanders who drift about outside haven't returned. They are still in distant places.

 

 

 

 

天净沙, 秋思

作者:马致远; 1250–1321

 

枯藤老树昏鸦,

小桥流水人家,

古道西风瘦马。

夕阳西下,

断肠人在天涯。