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Night on the Great River


After a Zen poem by Meng Hao-Ren
by Fa Xin Shakya (fxs@hsuyun.org)
photo by Yao Feng of Corinth (panter@otenet.gr)



 

When you were buying ripe cherimoyas
from a man on a donkey, in Nerja,
it was still the middle of the night here.
I would awaken, unable to breathe -
not for lack of air, but this sweet longing.
 
I went outside to ask the moon to bear
an imprint of my sorrow and my joy,
long enough at least to carry it there,
and reflect it in the warm, tideless sea
to your balcony on the cliffs above.
 

 
Vietnamese Translation
 

 
Audio Recording in MP3 format
 

 
Spanish Translation
 
Mientras le comprabas chirimoyas maduras
a un hombre montado en un burro, en Nerja,
aquí todavía era medianoche.
Me hubiera despertado, incapaz de respirar -
pero no por falta de aire, sino por esta dulce añoranza.
Salí afuera para solicitarle a la luna que mostrara
una señal de mi pena y mi gozo,
al menos lo suficiente como para llevarla allí,
y reflejarla en el caluroso, sereno mar
hasta tu balcón sobre los acantilados.
 
translated by Da Shi Chuan Ming, OHY
 

 
Romanian Translation
 
translated by Fa Ming Shakya, OHY
(of Romania)

Greek Translation
 
translated by Shi Fa Lian, OHY (of Corinth)

French Translation
 
A Nerja vous achetiez des annones mures
A l'homme qui chevauchait un âne.
C'était encore ici le milieu de la nuit.
 
Au bout de mon sommeil
J'appréhendais de retrouver mon souffle.
Pourtant ce n'était point l'air qui me manquait
Dans cette douce langueur.
Mais c'en était assez de mon fardeau.
 
Je m'en allai dehors demander à la lune
De supporter le sceau de mes tristesses et de mes joies
D'en porter le reflet sur la chaude mer étale
Et de là au surplomb là haut
Sur les falaises où vous logez.
 
translated by Shi Chuan Guang, OHY

Portuguese Translation
 
Quando compravas cherimóias
de um ambulante, em Nerja,
era ainda o meio da noite aqui.
Acordei, não podia respirar -
não por falta de ar, mas por saudade.

 
Saí para pedir à Lua: leve
uma impressão da minha tristeza e minha alegria,
o suficiente ao menos para chegar até aí,
e refeltí-la no mar morno e tranquilo
até a sua sacada nos penhascos lá em cima.

 
translated by Da Shi Chuan Yuan , OHY
 

 
Polish Translation
by Fa Dao Shakya, OHY
 


 

 
Polish Translation
by Upasaka Yao Sheng, OHY
 

 
Last modified: July 11, 2004
Produced by ZATMA
inf@zatma.org