Another Farewell (after Wang Wei)
We pause at the hill to say goodbye
and I close the willow gate
as dusk falls.
The grass will turn green again
next spring, but will you,
my friend, see its return?
The transliteration on Chinese-poems.com reads:
Hill at mutual escort stop
Day dusk shut wood door
Spring grass next year green
Prince offspring return not return
I’ve taken a few liberties, chief among them employing “willow” rather than wood, for its specificity and for its cultural significance (broken willow symbolizing departure). A little knowledge is dangerous…but I believe it works here.
Beautiful and heartbreaking.
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To part without knowing…
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Very nicely done. You capture the emotion beautifully.
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There have been many farewells during my life…I suppose I’m not alone in this.
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The theme of parting in Chinese poetry is ineffably sad and powerful. You give it its true voice in sparse and evocative language which surely gives the sense and emotional context of the original. How proud and honored I am to call you my friend.
Ron
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Sparse is my middle name. And thanks again, Ron.
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lovely — you capture the emotion of parting in beautifully sparse language that brought tears to my eyes and heart.
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Parting is universal. Thank you.
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Poignant, beautiful, Robert–well done.
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I appreciate your comments, as always. Thank you.
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I like the choice of “willow” over “wood”, to reinforce the difficulty and possible finality of this parting. The character Wang Wei chose for “door” is one that carries the ideogram “fei”, signifying opposition; it makes you imagine this gate as resisting the friend’s departure as much as the poet does… Hard to convey this in English so I think the willow substitution, being so quickly recognized, was great poetic license. ^_^
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We lose so much of the ideograms’ subtleties! Thank you for this.
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Goodness, that last question could be asked of any of us. I am so taken with your rendering of Chinese poetry.
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These poems have been with us for 1200 years. I’m pleased to participate, albeit in a minuscule way, in their continuing resonance.
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It is this delicate simplicity in which poetry often resides.
I love how this poem catches in one blink of an eye the friend leaving, the sorrow, the gate shutting as yet another detail which only enhances sadness, and a glimpse of hope flickering in an uncertain future. This is what I see in it.
You can probably tell I am not a connoisseur of Chinese poetry, but your blog gives me the opportunity to read it and appreciate it.
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You see to the heart of the poem, which is all any of us can expect. Thank you.
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I really love what you’re doing here with your re-translations. I hope you don’t mind that I’ll be following your work! Very well done.
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I’m honored that you find them worthy of following. Thank you.
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It works. This task must be difficult enough without adding bravery to the mix. Greatly enjoyed Robert.
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Thanks, Mike.
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“Willow” works; very nicely done. I love the photo below, how the road, on its way to its vanishing point, neatly slices the world in half. (But what’s up with the bamboo gate in the photo above!?)
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Well, I wanted a gate, and it was the best I could do…
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Question for you: my friend is planning to get a chinese poetry tattoo and I feel he is about to make a big mistake… But if he can’t be talked out of it maybe I can make a good recommendation? Could you suggest something for someone who wants a tattoo to “remember China” by?
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I’m afraid that I’m at a loss here. Wish I could help.
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SO lovely. early morning beauty for my heart.
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Thanks, Belinda!
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Spare, yes, but heart-wrenching all the same. Willow is definitely the right choice for this one.
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Thanks, Kathryn.
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Age brings us many such partings. I always enjoy your poems. Thanks for sharing
Robert
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Yes, Robert, it does. Happy to share. Thanks.
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This was posted on my brother Martin’s birthday. He would have been 59 years old. This was a perfect poem for this day. Thank you!
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You’re very welcome. I’m pleased you found it so.
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not to be disrespectful to the original transliterator, but your version is much, much better.
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I seem to recognize this one (I was given a book of old Chinese poetry while in China) – beautifully sad. they always stir my heart.
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I’m pleased that it’s recognizable!
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That feels so right.
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That’s all I hope for!
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This poem is beautiful and very moving. Thank you for sharing your translations of this lovely poetry. I look forward to reading more!
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Great translation Robert and thanks for stopping by at my blog.
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Thanks very much. I enjoy your blog!
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