Poem by Jia Rong XIANG
Yun Shui Yin, birth-name Jia Rongxiang, is a professor in Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. Yun Shui Yin has a PHD in Comparative Culture and her research focuses on Urban and Architectural Culture in China and the West, and Urban Poems. She is a poet and a translator as well, having published about 30 books and 200 essays and articles. She is a member of Literary Academy of World Environment and researcher of Beijing Architectural Culture Base.
SUCH AN ERA
In such an era
Hot blood flew as a red sea
Roaring or surging
To the mountain and to the country
In such an era
Songs woven into a dream green
True or fake
Delivering to poor villages and to deserted land
In such an era
Bitterness brewed into purple wine
Sad or happy
Questioning you and times
In such an era
Death of heart writes colourful epic
Weeping or complaining
About the old days idling away
Note: An era here refers to the Cultural Revolution in China from 19661976
DI ERA ITU
Di era itu
Darah muda menyirap seperti laut merah
Menggelegak dan meluap-luap
Hingga ke gunung dan ke desa
Di era itu
Lagu-lagu terjalin dalam mimpi hijau
Benar atau tidak
Dihantar ke desa-desa miskin dan tanah yang ditinggalkan
Di era itu
Kegetiran diperam menjadi arak ungu
Sedih atau bahagia
Anak-anak muda menyoal masa lalu
Di era itu
Kegersangan jiwa mencatat epik berwarna
Menangis atau merungut
Tentang hari-hari yang berlalu pergi
Nota: Era di sini merujuk kepada Revolusi Kebudayaan China dari tahun 1966 – 1976.
Translated into BAHASA MELAYU BY Siti Ruqaiyah HASHIM
FROM 2ND PEACE POEM ANTHOLOGY:
PEACE BE UPON YOU DAVOS.
