Crossing Lonely Sea

[timmo]

For your warm welcome, many thanks.

I have recently returned from Ling Ding Island. A small island near Hong Kong. It was here that the last of the grat Song generals Xen Tianxiang wrote Crossing Lonely Sea. With the help of my girlfriend I have been exploring this poem.

Each line has presented new problems in translation and I should be pleased to hear people's interpretation of this poem.

http://www.chinapage.org/wentian2n.html

Crossing Lonely sea

Wen Tian Xiang

Recalling my time in school, how I studied so hard to get this rank.

I have fought the enemy for four long years.

This war has broken my country and made it desolate.

The fate of my country is like the willow catkin in a blowing wind.

I can't see my future, I feel like duckweed on the river in the rains.

I was afraid when I was on Perilious Beach, sighing and heaving.

I feel lonely on Lonely Sea now.

Since olden days, no one who has lived , has not died.

How we die, thats important, I think .

The way I chose to die will be remembered in the history books forever!

[confucius]

I recall Ling Ding Island as being notorious for having a female/male ratio of 3:1 and for being a wonderful place to get a haircut. If Wen Tian Xiang only knew what his little island is remembered for now!

[timmo]

Mmmm, I am reminded of Basho:

Staying at an inn

where prostitutes are also sleeping--

bush clover and the moon.