Featured Friday: Vernon Meidlinger-Chin Takes On Tang Dynasty Poetry

Oh boy, oh boy! We have a treat for you today, my friends! Vernon Meidlinger-Chin is back on the blog on this fine day to share with us his translations of Tang Dynasty poetry. Yes, yes, we're all lucky little ducks over at Floodmark to know such interesting people! Perhaps you remember Vernon's guest post last month, "Why Write?". (If not, tsk, tsk! You have some reading to do!) 

So, we go from Vernon's wonderful insight on why we crazy writers do our thing to translations of ancient Chinese poetry. Now, mind you, he had to translate these twice---once into modern Chinese and then again into English for you. AND, he provided you with readings so you can get a feel for the rhythms of the poetry. It's because you're all so special, of course, that he took these pains! So enjoy them, because how often will you find someone willing to translate a poem TWICE and then read it to you?! (Answer: Never. Bow down to Vernon.)

Explanation: Vernon's metaphorical hands.
Real Explanation: I needed a cover photo for this article.
Really Real Explanation: OK SO I JUST LIKE THIS PHOTO.
So. This caption escalated quickly. 

So, without further introduction, I'm ecstatic to pass the mic to the ever insightful, ever interesting, and ever-so talented Vernon Meidlinger-Chin!

Take it away, Vernon!

Happy poetry month! I realize April is "national" poetry month, but that's no reason not to step outside the anglophone world this month.

Come with me, I would like to take you to China during the Tang Dynasty (618—907 AD). The poetry of Tang poets is succinct, elegant, and lovely to the ear...but that's provided you can speak Chinese.

For your reading pleasure, I've tried my best to capture the meaning and meter of two Tang poems. No translation is perfect, but that shouldn't stop us from trying to exchange poems between languages, right?

First, probably one of the most well-know Tang poems in the Chinese-speaking world is "夜思" ("Night Thoughts") by 李白 (Li Bai), the text of which reads:

『宋前明月光
疑是地上霜
舉頭望明月
低頭思故鄉』

And, as I translate it:

"Before my bed the bright moonlight
Seems to be a pool of ice
I lift my head to the bright moon
And sink again to think of home"

Click here to listen to this poem. 

Meter is important in Tang poetry. Unlike in a haiku, where you alternate five syllables, then seven, then five again, a Tang poem consists of four or eight lines of either five or seven syllables each. These constraints give Tang poetry a wonderful rhythm that doesn't quite carry over into English

Here is another Tang poem: "囘鄉偶書" ("Returning Home; Incidental Verse") by 賀知章 (He Zhizhang)

『少小離家老大囘
鄉音無改鬢毛衰
兒童相見不相識
笑問客從何處來』

"In my youth I left home, in my old age, returned
My hair has grown thin though my accent's still strong
The children see me but do not recognize
And laugh as they ask where their old guest belongs"

Click here to listen to this poem. 

To help you in your appreciation of these poems, check out the recordings. Even if you can't understand the words, I hope you can appreciate the meter and melody of the poems, and maybe even find a little inspiration. Happy poetry month!

Love,

Vernon

We here at Floodmark cannot thank Vernon enough for these beautiful translations and readings. Happy Poetry Month, Vernon! If you're digging what Vernon has to say, you can check out his guest post for more inspiration, and/or read more about him below:

Vernon Meidlinger-Chin grew up in southern Missouri and currently lives in Taiwan where he is ostensibly a student, but actually just goofs off and attempts to be creative. He is the co-author of such no-hit wonders as "Lady Redundant Woman", "The Anteaters from Outer Space", and "Quadriplegic Patrick Stewart (Is Killing Folks With His Brain)". Additionally he writes short stories, essays, and comics, and bakes pies. His work can thus be mostly found in his kitchen, though never for very long.