Cultural Understanding
This is an English translation by Abby Lu of a contemporary poem by 聞一多, 《死水》, about a stagnant pond, which he used as metaphor for the corrupt and closed Old China. Original work: 《死水》，闻一多 這是一溝絕望的死水， 清風吹不起半點漪淪。 不如多扔些破銅爛鐵， 爽性潑你的剩菜殘羹。 也許銅的要綠成翡翠， 鐵罐上鏽出機瓣桃花； 再讓油膩織一層羅琦， 霉菌給他蒸出些雲霞。 讓死水酵成一溝綠酒， 漂滿了珍珠似的白沫； 小珠們笑聲變成大珠； 又被偷酒的花蚊咬破。 那麼一溝絕望的死水， 也就誇得上幾分鮮明。 如果青蛙耐不住寂寞， 又算死水叫出了歌聲。 這是一溝絕望的死水， 這裏斷不是美的所在， 不如讓給醜惡來開墾， 看它造出個什麼世界。 Translation […]
MoreAn English translation of a work of ancient Chinese literature, 《木兰诗》. An attempt by Abby Lu. Original work: 《木兰诗》，無名氏 唧唧复唧唧，木兰当户织。不闻机杼声，唯闻女叹息。问女何所思？问女何所忆？女亦无所思，女亦无所忆。昨夜见军帖，可汗大点兵，军书十二卷，卷卷有爷名。阿爷无大儿，木兰无长兄，愿为市鞍马，从此替爷征。东市买骏马，西市买鞍鞯，南市买辔头，北市买长鞭。朝辞爷娘去，暮宿黄河边。不闻爷娘唤女声，但闻黄河流水鸣溅溅。旦辞黄河去，暮至黑山头。不闻爷娘唤女声，但闻燕山胡骑声啾啾。万里赴戎机，关山度若飞。朔气传金柝，寒光照铁衣。将军百战死，壮士十年归。归来见天子，天子坐明堂。策勋十二转，赏赐百千强。可汗问所欲，“木兰不用尚书郎，愿借明驼千里足，送儿还故乡。”爷娘闻女来，出郭相扶将。阿姊闻妹来，当户理红妆。小弟闻姊来，磨刀霍霍向猪羊。开我东阁门，坐我西阁床。脱我战时袍，著我旧时裳。当窗理云鬓，对镜贴花黄。出门看火伴，火伴皆惊惶。同行十二年，不知木兰是女郎。“雄兔脚扑朔，雌兔眼迷离；两兔傍地走，安能辨我是雄雌！” English Translation by A.L: “Ode to Mulan,” Anonymous Again and again, the sound of thread. Mulan weaves by the door. There is no sound of the loom, just the hush of a woman’s sigh. Ask […]
MoreAn English translation of a work of ancient Chinese literature about an ugly hut, 《陋室铭》. An attempt by Abby Lu. Original text: 《陋室铭》，刘禹锡 山不在高，有仙则名。水不在深，有龙则灵。斯是陋室，惟吾德馨。苔痕上阶绿，草色入帘青。谈笑有鸿儒，往来无白丁。可以调素琴，阅金经。无丝竹之乱耳，无案牍之劳形。南阳诸葛庐，西蜀子云亭，孔子云：何陋之有？ English translation by A.L: “On an Ugly Hut,” Liu Yuxi It is not about the height of the pinnacle. What gifts the mountain with prominence is the presence of a deity. […]
MoreA taste of home in somewhere far away. (A narration of the American Chinese from the perspective of a Chinese Chinese) – Abby Lu I walk into a red brick building typical to New Jersey into a teen center now transformed, drenched in red. Red is the color of China, the color of happiness, the color of Chinese […]
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The Big Duck 