Li Bai ,
To Someone Far Away
李白 长相思·其三
When she was here
pretty darling
flowers filled the hall
Now she’s gone
pretty darling
left her bed behind
On her bed
th’embroidered coverlet
rolled up
never slept in again
Three years to the day
still keeps
the scent of her
Fragrance never lost
pretty darling
never came back
Yellow leaves falling
when I think of her
white dew
on green moss.
Translation: C.H. Kwock and Vincent Mc Hugh in Cyril Birch, ed., Anthology of Chinese Literature Vol 1 (New York: Grove Press, 1965) 226-27.
Li Bai ,
Three, Five, Seven Words
李白
三五七言
The autumn wind is light
The autumn moon is bright;
Fallen leaves gather but then disperse
A cold crow roosts but again he stirs
I think of you, and wonder when I’ll see you again?
At such an hour, on such a night, cruel is love’s pain!
Arthur Cooper, transl,
Li Po and Tu Fu: Poems (London: Penguin Books, 1973) 157.
My song: The “pretty darling” phrase in the translation immediately brought to mind American folk songs like “Little Darling Pal of Mine” or “Oh My Darling Clementine.’ In the second poem, “I wonder when I’ll see you again” reminded me of bluegrass songs like “I Wonder Where You Are Tonight.” Neither poem seemed quite enough for an engaging song on its own, but together as a verse and chorus they made a nice package of Americana.
In style, my song would suit the original Carter Family (guitar and autoharp!). Or a piano accompaniment as an old parlor song, with thoughts of Stephen Foster (I did an alternate recording that way, with piano and violin, and it had its own charm). Or a guitar/mandolin presentation in the manner of Norman Blake, or Ricky Skaggs and Tony Rice. But I’ve chosen here a more full ‘band’ arrangement that blends folk, bluegrass, and country.