(Bilingual Post) 香港兩中秋

本帖于 2023-09-28 18:06:28 时间, 由普通用户 renqiulan 编辑

Mid-Autumn 1960

A skinny kid barely 12 years old, I had a good-sized basket of scrap metal on my back. I was not alone, of course. Ahead of me were bony boys and girls about my age, all born with a burden. 

Boys wore no more than worn-out shorts. Girls fared better, covering themselves in patched clothes. One of them - I couldn't help imagining - turned around and smiled at me. What a lovely twig doll! Doll or no doll, however, we all desperately needed to sell stuff for food in a marketplace beckoning from afar.

Ouch! I cut myself walking barefoot. Well, I had sold my outgrown sandals the other day.

Unusually quiet behind me was my newly widowed mother. In her arms was my baby sister, also unusually quiet.

My baby sister ended up in heaven on that market day. No one explained to me why she didn't have a chance on earth.

Nightfall came. So did moonrise. Moon-gazing refugees from the Mainland were all over Hong Kong. 

(Google image)


2022年中秋

調寄《浣溪沙》(詞林正韻第二部平聲)

海上明珠海底藏,冰輪獨亮自由光;人間幾處自由鄉?

歲月無言誇靜好,欄杆有力拍悲涼;西風一夜雁何方?


Author: renqiulan


*香港,号称东方之珠。

所有跟帖: 

赞英文微小说和中文诗词,相得益彰。不知道60年代香港发生过什么。中学历史书上记载不详。相对于标题,内容尽显沧桑。 -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 17:47:05

Thank you, 盈盈! -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 17:52:15

“海上明珠锁黑箱,冰輪獨亮自由光;人間幾處自由鄉”,锁黑箱,怎么理解?:) -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 17:56:28

盈盈问得好,的确不好理解。即改。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:02:03

啊?我还以为是有什么故事背景呢。:) -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:04:41

黑箱作业之意。不过,于词境无助,故改。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:08:45

改为:海上明珠海底藏。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:10:00

秋兰快笔!黑箱作业,可有什么历史背景?当初发生了什么?好奇。 -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:11:48

A black box model receives inputs and produces outputs but -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:19:09

its workings are unknowable. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:19:56

暗箱操作。 -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:29:42

Incidentally, language acquisition is---according to -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:37:45

Noam Chomsky---essentially a black box problem. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:38:56

I digress. My apologies. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:40:51

No problem. Can you please shed your light on it? -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:45:12

今日香港官方跟大陆一样,強令历史服务政治。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:14:17

历史就是个任人打扮的小姑娘呀。这句话秋兰能看懂吗?:) -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:24:18

看得懂,但是不敢苟同,因为事实不是这样子的。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:29:58

这句话是讽刺。 -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:31:11

太犬儒了。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:32:53

cynicism -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:39:36

Still, it is quite a nice punchline for a stand-up comedian. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:42:43

Yup. Cold jokes... -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:46:40

I have deep respect for comedians. Why? Because... -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:22:29

“Dying is easy, comedy is hard.” This is a deathbed quote -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:23:56

attributed to "character actor" Edmund Gwenn. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:25:32

Making people laugh is a challenging and demanding job. -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:36:57

character actor, 实力派演员? -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:40:27

A poignant, gut-wrenching read. -waterfowl- 给 waterfowl 发送悄悄话 waterfowl 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 17:49:11

Thank you, waterfowl! 1960 was an "annus horribilis." -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 17:57:59

查了一下历史,那年中国大陆好像发生过夹边沟农场惨案。香港还真不太清楚。 -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:01:54

这得从“大跃进”说起。当然,更应该从“人民公社”,从“大锅饭‘’说起。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:24:16

哇! 中国历史,秋兰很了解嘛。赞。 -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:25:00

批我,好吗? -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:31:56

这段历史,中学课本几笔带过。不少内容我都是听我爸妈告诉我的,他们小时候的故事。 -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:38:10

还原历史,至少补充历史,是上一代人的功德。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:46:15

可参考杨继绳所著的《墓碑:一九五八至一九六二年中国大饥荒纪实》 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:28:02

哇!秋兰到底读过多少书!我记得你上次从香港台湾回来,就买了好多中文书,我没有看过的中文书。 -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:32:32

盈盈记忆力真強。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:47:36

Translate the 词 into English as well? -方外居士- 给 方外居士 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:15:07

方外居士, please be my guest! -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:16:03

Honestly, it is above my pay grade. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:16:51

词太好了,只是想看用英语写会是什么样的。 -方外居士- 给 方外居士 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 18:49:33

感谢鼓励!实在是习作水平而已。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:05:47

This is my personal bias: poetry defies translation. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:09:05

Classical Chinese poetry, in particular, is a minefield -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:16:09

with "dragon teeth" as far as translators are concerned. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:17:08

IMHO, 秋兰,You are a great candidate to take on this job. -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:20:57

Naw! But I appreciate it. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:43:10

我看过许渊冲的一些诗词翻译。钱钟书曾评价他:“要是李白活到当世,也懂英文,必和许渊冲是知己。” -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:45:07

闻一多也谈论过李白诗的英译(跟许渊冲当然无关),指出语境是鸿沟,跨不过的。我同意。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:52:05

Thanks for sharing the thinking! -方外居士- 给 方外居士 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:22:16

Translation might be doable when it comes to -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:44:33

sister civilizations (such as those of Babylon & Assyria). -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:47:00

I cannot agree more. -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:30:33

我直觉地认为很多诗歌,尤其是中国的古诗词,是不能翻译的,这是由汉字本身的特殊性和特征所决定的, -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:31:51

翻译出来后,感觉面目全非,而且完全失去了原诗的意境和味道。 -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:32:41

那中西方文化的交流怎么办?:) -盈盈一笑间- 给 盈盈一笑间 发送悄悄话 盈盈一笑间 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:43:19

Good question. 我主要是针对诗歌翻译而言的。:) -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:53:20

All hope is not lost to those who dream. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:59:24

There's a way around it, I believe. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:04:20

就文化交流而言,我认为:Meanings can get as close as possible. -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:14:21

Your idea makes sense to me. It reminds me of -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:27:36

The Shahnama of Firdausi, translated by A. G. Warner and E. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:29:02

in 8 volumes (London, 1905-1923). They -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:30:07

anglicized Persian classics sensibly. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:33:04

先赞,我的水平需要慢慢拜读,晚间学习。 -古树羽音- 给 古树羽音 发送悄悄话 古树羽音 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:26:03

感谢古树羽音!太客气了。欢迎交流! -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:07:43

A touching story in English and a classical Chinese poem -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:45:44

shine together like a perfect moon. 赞! 谢谢秋兰分享,中秋快乐! -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 19:47:27

感谢小西!期待新作。 -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:15:20

I wrote a little poem inspired by my boy's drawing. -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:21:10

When I wrote it, I thought of your baby girl :) -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:23:30

I will post it next week. -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:25:39

That sounds appetizing enough. I am looking forward to -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:40:03

the full version of yours. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:41:13

The story is based on a senior Hong Kong citizen's -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:11:48

narrative of his "refugee generation." -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:13:39

Good to know. Thanks for sharing. -CBA7- 给 CBA7 发送悄悄话 CBA7 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:16:47

You are welcome. Goodnight! -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:42:25

a touching story and a provocative poem! -颤音- 给 颤音 发送悄悄话 颤音 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/28/2023 postreply 20:56:38

Thank you, 颤音! Heart-breaking stories keep piling up. I am -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/29/2023 postreply 10:20:48

afraid that it is the worst of times in Hong Kong. -renqiulan- 给 renqiulan 发送悄悄话 renqiulan 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 09/29/2023 postreply 10:22:01

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