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This year ends thus: northern winds, white snow
shrouding Tung-t'ing Lake and all Hsiao and Hsiang.
Under cold skies, as fishermen tend frozen nets, Mo-yao
tribesmen shot geese. Their mulberry bows go twang.
But Ch'u people like fish, not birds. Let the geese
keep flying south--killing them here is pointless.
Rice was expensive last year. Soldiers starved.
This year, falling prices have ravaged our farmers.
And as officials ride high, stuffed with wine and meat,
the looms in these fleeced straw huts stand empty.
I hear even children are sold now, that it's common
everywhere: love hacked and smothered to pay taxes.
Once, they jailed people for minting coins. But now,
cutting green copper with iron and lead is approved.
Engraved mud would be easier. Good and bad are surely
not the same, but they've long been blended together.
From the walls of ten-thousand kingdoms, painted
horns moan: such sad anthems, will they never stop?
--Du Fu, 768 CE
Posted at 18:06 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I program my heart to beat breakbeats and hum basslines on exhalation
Play (If you prefer, jump to Part 2)
Posted at 15:39 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
차단---한 등불이 하나 비인 하늘에 걸려 있다.
내 호올로 어델 가라는 슬픈 신호냐.
긴- 여름 해 황망히 나래를 접고
늘어선 고층 창백한 묘석같이 황혼에 젖어
찬란한 야경 무성한 잡초인 양 헝클어진 채
사념(思念) 벙어리되어 입을 다물다.
피부의 바깥에 스미는 어둠
낯설은 거리의 아우성 소리
까닭도 없이 눈물겹고나
공허한 군중의 행렬에 섞이어
내 어디서 그리 무거운 비애를 지고 왔기에
길---게 늘인 그림자 이다지 어두워
내 어디로 가라는 슬픈 신호기
차단---한 등불이 하나 비인 하늘에 걸리어 있다.
--김광균
---------------------
Gaslight
Isolated--a gaslight hangs in an empty sky;
Where does this sad signal urge me to go?
The long summer day folds its wings in a flurry.
Lined like tombstones, pale tenements wash out against the dusk.
In this glaring nightscape tangled like weeds,
My thoughts have gone mute.
The gloom soaks into my skin:
Shouting voices in the alley
Bring me to tears for no reason.
Adrift among the city's aimless masses,
Where did I take on this heavy sadness?
--My shadow stretches dark and thick against the street.
A sad guide telling me to go...somewhere...
Isolated--a gaslight hangs in the empty sky.
--Kim, Gwang-Gyun
Translation: WJT
Posted at 13:56 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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