Chinese Poetry Translation | My River
My River by Xiong Linqing
Before becoming the Yangtze River,I would like to be the Black Creek, a fork
from a circuitous but clear source,with an awesome yet gracious depth.
Before becoming Black Creek,let me be its tributary stream,call me the Nine-Twist Creek, or Blackboard Brook,whatever, even Nameless Trickle will do.
Oozing from a clump of cattails under the boulder, or
from the roots of a chestnut tree deep in the mountain,saving childhood and youthful joy in its heart,how much silt can a creek take from its homeland?
Every statuesque boulder sends me a ripple,every headland makes me linger,under the cliff I decided to journey away from home,but there is disconsolation in the elders' eyes
when they look into the distance that I cannot carry with me.
Trickling down the mountain gullies, like tears flowing down
a wrinkled face, that's the reason of my murky color.
I stain the Black Creek with my turbid flow,I must also beg the Yangtze River for forgiveness, for
carving away its ancient crust.
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My River
by Xiong Linqing
Before becoming the Yangtze River,
I would like to be the Black Creek, a fork
from a circuitous but clear source,
with an awesome yet gracious depth.
Before becoming Black Creek,
let me be its tributary stream,
call me the Nine-Twist Creek, or Blackboard Brook,
whatever, even Nameless Trickle will do.
Oozing from a clump of cattails under the boulder, or
from the roots of a chestnut tree deep in the mountain,
saving childhood and youthful joy in its heart,
how much silt can a creek take from its homeland?
Every statuesque boulder sends me a ripple,
every headland makes me linger,
under the cliff I decided to journey away from home,
but there is disconsolation in the elders’ eyes
when they look into the distance that I cannot carry with me.
Trickling down the mountain gullies, like tears flowing down
a wrinkled face, that’s the reason of my murky color.
I stain the Black Creek with my turbid flow,
I must also beg the Yangtze River for forgiveness, for
carving away its ancient crust.
Translated by Duck Yard Lyricists
Duck Yard Lyricists is a group of devoted poetry lovers: Meifu Wang, Peter Micic, Michael Soper & Johan Ramaekers.
2011—20122016
PATHSHARERS BOOKS
Duck Yard Lyricists
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“21st Century Chinese Poetry”
