November 07, 2004 - 1:08 a.m.

.Favourite Word
文弱书生
W�n R�o Shū Shēng = feeble scholar.
As in: "You're the captain of the 
soccer team? I always thought you were
a feeble scholar!"



.Least Fav Word
作品
I will scream the next time someone 
says 'Z�o pǐn' （作品）�i��i�j.
Meaning 'writings', 'works'. Most 
annoying when said at the end of a 
sentence with a hissing lingering on 
the 'pin': head tilts back, corners of 
mouth turn down as if the speaker has 
just said something very precise and 
wise.  

Went to a Chinese poetry reading where 
they said 'zuo pin' a fair few times.  
Thought it would be a bit scary, but 
it was fine.  Reminded me of an 
alchoholics anonymous meeting.  
Everyone who spoke seemed to have 
mental problems - maybe its the same 
at these poetry reading things in 
England, i dont know.  I enjoyed 
watching this guy with shoulder length 
hair, glasses and a brace getting all 
worked up while reading his poem and 
spitting all over the front row.  The 
chinese girl next to me wispered 'he 
looks like a woman'. ok.

When they asked if any members of the 
audience had poems to read, a shy 
middle aged woman stood up and in a 
high wavering voice read her poem 
entitled 'hen hao'(very good).  Wasnt 
sure how I felt when all the students 
started sniggering.  Yeah it was 
nasty, but even I could tell the poem 
was crap.

The rest was just your usual Chinese 
speech contest fare - melodramatic, 
quiet and breathy mode or shouty 
hitler mode.  The best get a nice 
crescendo between the two, but most 
people just try to change gears as 
quickly as possible. 'oo i havent 
shouted yet and the poem's coming to 
an end..aarrgGHHHHHH GA GA GAAA'.



--------= -=-------         ===== ---
http://welkin.motime.com/
Scarborough Fair 诗经体译文

I dont know how accurate this is, no
time to read it now.  Thought it was
interesting, Ill leave it here for later.



译者：莲波


问尔所之，是否如适。 Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷。 Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
彼方淑女，凭君寄辞。 Remember me to one who lives there.
伊人曾在，与我相知。 She once was a true love of mine.



嘱彼佳人，备我衣缁。 Tell her to make me a cambric shirt.
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷。 Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
勿用针砧，无隙无疵。 Without no seams nor needle work.
伊人何在，慰我相思。 Then she will be a true love of mine.




彼山之阴，深林荒址。 On the side of hill in the deep forest green,
冬寻毡毯，老雀燕子。 Tracing of sparrow on snow crested brown.
雪覆四野，高山迟滞。 Blankets and bed clothes the child of a mountain.
眠而不觉，寒笳清嘶。 Sleeps unaware of the clarion call.



嘱彼佳人，营我家室。 Tell her to find me an acre of land.
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷。 Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
良田所修，大海之坻。 Between the salt water and the sea strand,
伊人应在，任我相视。 Then she will be a true love of mine.



彼山之阴，叶疏苔蚀。 On the side of hill a sprinkling of leaves
涤彼孤冢，珠泪渐渍。 Washes the grave with slivery tears.
惜我长剑，日日拂拭。 A soldier cleans and polishes a gun.
寂而不觉，寒笳长嘶。 Sleeps unaware of the clarion call.



嘱彼佳人，收我秋实。 Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather.
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷。 Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
敛之集之，勿弃勿失。 And gather it all in a bunch of heather.
伊人犹在，唯我相誓。 Then she will be a ture love of mine.



烽火印啸，浴血之师。 War bellows blazing in scarlet battalions.
将帅有令，勤王之事。 Generals order their soldiers to kill and to fight.
争斗缘何，久忘其旨。 For a cause they have long ago forgotten.
痴而不觉，寒笳悲嘶。 Sleeps unaware of the clarion call.



问尔所之，是否如适。 Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
蕙兰芫荽，郁郁香芷。 Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
彼方淑女，凭君寄辞。 Remember me to one who lives there.
伊人曾在，与我相知。 She once was a true love of mine.


 
previous - next



combined companions
biscuit banana coffee
friendly mcvittie