If this life is a performance, then surely this performance is a stage performance and not a cinematic one. For we are confronted not by the camera, but by the living audience. We act as we are meant to do, for there can be no editing. If we give a lousy performance, there is no way to take it back, because there are no additional takes for the taking. What makes life more difficult than any...
Kaleidoscope We are all familiar with the kaleidoscope. Our childhood days were spent looking through the mirror of the kaleidoscope at the countless, beautiful images. As we turn it continuously, the images change endlessly. But smash the kaleidoscope open, and you will find nothing but bits of coloured paper inside. Our lives are no different. As the wheel of life turns, many things are...
Ruan Dacheng (1587-1646) is one of the great late-Ming writers, but his importance as a poet has been undervalued, almost certainly as a result of his political notoriety, which still affects views of him today. However, his outstanding contributions to drama are generally recognised and he is considered one of the leading playwrights of the generation after Tang Xianzu. Ruan was born into a...
Coffeehouse In the bustling city, we often stumble upon elegant coffeehouses with their warm lights and soothing music. We step in and the cacophony of the streets are left to the world beyond the thick glass doors. We can sink ourselves into comfortable chairs, enjoy the music, and sip our drinks. All is well with the world. Yet eventually, work demands our attention. Emerging from the...
Details and Conclusions On the first day of medical school, a professor tells his class, “As a doctor, it is of utmost importance that you are courageous and meticulous.” Having said this, he sticks his finger into a urine sample on his desk, and puts the finger into his mouth. Then, he hands the urine sample over to the students and watches as they suppress their nausea and follow suit...
Yu Yan Chen is a poet and literary translator. Her poems and literary translations have appeared in the US, UK and China. Her first collection of original poetry, Small Hours, was published by New York Quarterly Books in 2011. Her translation of The Chief Cellist, a children’s book by Taiwanese author Wang Wenhua, was published by Balestier Press. She currently resides in Singapore. ...
Yu Yan Chen is a poet and literary translator. Her poems and literary translations have appeared in the US, UK and China. Her first collection of original poetry, Small Hours, was published by New York Quarterly Books in 2011. Her translation of The Chief Cellist, a children’s book by Taiwanese author Wang Wenhua, was published by Balestier Press. She currently resides in Singapore. Li...
新加坡组曲 冒烟的枪管 辜加兵们举着一支支冒着热烟的枪管 冷冷地，瞄准我 以英国殖民地政府的语言和警告 在当年基里玛路的光华学校校园内 在一触即发的沸腾点上 （杀戮是可怕的—— 那两个在枪管前临阵退缩的学生领袖 犹如两个弃械而逃的败将 她们不堪的溃散形象，塑成我 半个世纪后犹新的记忆） 群龙不能无首 我选择走出对峙的课室 挺身面对这个时代的惶恐和浪尖 在英国殖民地政府的算计与镇压下 在最为喧闹的世纪叫嚣前 在学生群众的不解眼神前，我高举双手 我以我孱弱的身体 一种舍身成仁的感性语言 走向那些雇佣兵 走向那些兀自冒着热烟的枪管 走向炼狱 作于2010年2月15日 原载2010年3月5日《联合早报·文艺城》 地铁工事 组屋之外，公路之外 高楼大桥与一切文明建设之外 还有一种奔放的声响 正在萌芽 筑着历史，筑着 混凝土与钢筋的骄傲 狮岛的血脉 以巨大的手掌穿云插地 音符是长长长长的衔接轨道...
梳起不嫁 淡莹 柔柔披在肩上的 岂只是乌黑水亮的秀发 是炫丽闪烁的青春啊 从唐山逶迤到南洋 蕉风拂过，椰雨淋过 那匹玄色动人的瀑布 千里一泻至小蛮腰 袅袅娜娜，摇曳生姿 多少汉家郎的心弦 多少好男儿的遐思 都被一一牵动 一一撩起 六月初九，麻雀啾啾 啼亮了晨光 万物睁开双眼 发现世界依旧美好 怎会料到，样样 美好依旧的这天 掌中小小竹篦 一梳就梳起了 今生今世的岁月 梳掉憧憬和浪漫 梳走汉家郎 好男儿的 无限深情，万般眷恋 一篦一篦，梳得 如此整齐，一丝不苟 如此利落，决不含糊 连刹那间的回眸 都是冰清玉洁 三千缕情愫 自六月初九开始 被紧紧绾在脑后 顺溜、密实、服贴 再也不能随意飞扬 不能招风、不能妆扮 凡触及它的，眼神 无不伤痛，目光 无不黯然、惆怅 为何把灿烂的 灿烂的二八年华 梳成漫长寂寞的道路？ 为何把似水的 似水的少女情怀 梳成午夜梦回的叹息？...
Xiangyun Lim has a particular interest in translating contemporary works from the Chinese diaspora. Her works can be found in Living in Babel (Canopy), The Creative Literary Studio, and is forthcoming in Poem. Having grown up in Singapore, Xiang has lived in Seattle, Barcelona, Taiwan and United Kingdom. She is one of the recipients of the Singapore Apprenticeship in Literary Translation (SALT)...