In the Mist
Zen (1)
What was said, or left unsaid
were forgotten
when you left
silently.
I let my tears hide
in the pages of this book.
Just like
those few Jasmine blossoms
from our youth.
Perhaps in an afternoon yet to come
they will take flight
suddenly
into a fragrant-less, sound-less
void.
And perhaps, at that time
outside the window
there would be rain
falling
ever so gently.
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禪意（一） (席慕容)
當你沉默地離去
說過的 或沒說過的話
都已忘記
我將我的哭泣也夾在
書頁裏 好像
我們年輕時的那幾朵茉莉
也許會在多年後的
一個黃昏裏
從偶然翻開的扉頁中落下
沒有芳香 再無聲息
窗外那時 也許
會正落著細細的細細的雨
Poetry, Translations, Xi Murong 席慕容
Poetry, Translation, Xi Murong 席慕容, Zen
Imprint
Imprint
Do not deny that beautiful promise
from being made
because it may change.
Do not deny yourself that one
wholehearted encounter
because it may end in departure.
There must be something
that will remain.
Remain to be a permanent imprint
so that
So that
Even those whom I have never met
will know
How much, how deeply,
I have loved you.
印記 (席慕容)
不要因為也許會改變
就不肯說那句美麗的誓言
不要因為也許會分離
就不敢求一次傾心的相遇
總有一些什麼
會留下來的吧
留下來作一件不滅的印記
好讓 好讓那些
不相識的人也能知道
我曾經怎樣深深地愛過你
Poetry, Translations, Xi Murong 席慕容
Poetry, Translation, Xi Murong 席慕容
Vanish
If
The four seasons can be
decorated with solemn grayness –
If the Sun so wishes.
Life can be
arranged with profound loneliness –
If Love so wishes.
I can forever
- - vanish – -
If You so wish.
Except for my thoughts of you
my Darling,
I have nothing.
But
If you so wish
I will immediately let these
thoughts wither and fall
If You so wish.
I will unearth every seed
Slit every river
Allow this destitute wasteland to
extend to eternity.
Never think of you again,
for the rest of my life.
Except, perhaps, on those nights
dampened with tears.
If such
is your wish.
—
I made the decision to translate 願意 as “so wish,” contrary to conventions, because I felt this was the essence of the poem that was conveyed to me. Some may argue as to the accuracy, but it’s a conscious personal choice.
如果 (席慕容)
四季可以安排得極為黯淡
如果太陽願意
人生可以安排得極為寂寞
如果愛情願意
我可以永不再出現
如果你願意
除了對妳的思念
親愛的朋友 我一無長物
然而 如果妳願意
我將立即使思念枯萎 斷落
如果妳願意
我將
把每一粒種子都掘起
把每一條河流都切斷
讓荒蕪乾涸延伸到無窮遠
今生今世 永不再將妳想起
除了 除了在有些個
因落淚而濕潤的夜裏
如果妳願意
Poetry, Translations, Xi Murong 席慕容
Poetry, Translation, Xi Murong 席慕容
Mist
Nostalgia
The song from my homeland is
a crisp whistle -
always singing
on a moonlit night.
Ah, but
The face of my homeland is
a faded heartache
as if waving farewell
through a mist.
After the goodbyes,
Nostalgia is an ageless tree
forgetting to mark its years
with a ring.
—
I tore my hair out trying to find something fitting for the end… alas… human capabilities are limited… so please, don’t think any less of me.
鄉愁 (席慕容)
故鄉的歌是一支清遠的笛
總在有月亮的晚上響起
故鄉的面貌卻是一種模糊的悵惘
彷彿霧裏的揮手別離
離別後
鄉愁是一棵沒有年輪的樹
永不老去
Poetry, Translations, Xi Murong 席慕容
Poetry, Translation, Xi Murong 席慕容
Monologue
Just for that spark of Life.
Stop writing these strange poems
you won’t ever become a poet.
But…
The love that I harbor is of such
beauty,
how can my heart be not filled with
poetry?
My words are as loosened pearls,
be they, incomplete and imperfect,
but every single one
is smooth as when they started.
I cannot stop the thoughts delivered
by my pen,
like the unstoppable rain
in the Spring –
be it that it splatters mud
all over the streets -
But it cannot clear the heart
of the Jasmine
of its mark.
自白 (席慕容)
別再寫這些奇怪的詩篇了
你這一輩子別想做詩人
但是
屬於我的愛是這樣美麗
我心中又怎能不充滿詩意
我的詩句像斷鍊的珍珠
雖然殘缺不齊
但是每一顆珠子
仍然柔潤如初
我無法停止我筆尖的思緒
像無法停止的春天的雨
雖然會下得滿街泥濘
卻也洗不淨了茉莉的小花心
———————
This is a small present for my dearest 大S. Her love for music and her persistence in finding what she truly loves always resonates with my own search. She has also been a huge support for the craziness that I’m trying to attempt in my life… perhaps because she is also doing what some may think is “crazy.”May she find what’s in her heart and continue to be the brave and beautiful person that she is. Happy Birthday, sweetie!
Addendum: After staring at this poem for a while, I finally had a better understanding of the final stanza… so changed it.
Poetry, Translations, Xi Murong 席慕容
Poetry, Translation, Xi Murong 席慕容