Shelly Bryant divides her year between Shanghai and Singapore, working as a poet, writer, and translator. She is the author of eight volumes of poetry (Alban Lake and Math Paper Press), a pair of travel guides for the cities of Suzhou and Shanghai (Urbanatomy), and a book on classical Chinese gardens (Hong Kong University Press). She has translated work from the Chinese for Penguin Books, Epigram...
Shelly Bryant – two poems from “Peregrinations”
SHELLY BRYANT divides her year between Shanghai and Singapore, working as a poet, writer, and translator. She is the author of eight volumes of poetry (Alban Lake and Math Paper Press), a pair of travel guides for the cities of Suzhou and Shanghai (Urbanatomy), and a book on classical Chinese gardens (Hong Kong University Press). She has translated work from the Chinese for Penguin Books, Epigram...
Wu Mu (Teo Sum Lim) – 新加坡组曲 (translated as ‘Singapore Suite’ by Shelly Bryant)
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...
Dan Ying – 梳起不嫁 (translated as “Combing Up, Never to Marry” by Shelly Bryant)
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?...
Xi Ni’er – 加冷河 (translated as “Kallang River” by Shelly Bryant)
加冷河 希尼尔 有一条河 静静流着 之一 就这样踌躇地流着 一条河,舒展龙爪 自北回南,向两岸扩张 日日夜夜,呜咽低吟 在先祖的记忆里 坚持一种流动的肤色 多少梦里唤他回去 多少日子,夹带两岸泥沙的深愁 水位的升涨 随汗水血泪的盈寡而漂动 潆洄中迟滞里寻找出路 不曾有一泻千里的雄姿 一条河,历史告诉他应该倒流 以泥土的颜色 日夜奔成一片希望的远景 那河,曾经在我脚下在我心中 属于过去也属于记忆 没有苇白的两岸依然肥沃依然 辉煌我的长河呵 灌我,沐我,那河 小时候不知道将它砌好围起 一任它摊开奔腾向南海 一去不回的旧梦 洸洸不安的河水 每洄汨一段,即盘聚成泥沼 河水就此回溯 自赤裸的童年,鱼虾的水乡 萎缩成一脉孤藤,曲伏在小小的地图上 史书的末章,静静 低咽 太息 不幸呢还是大幸,河的浅滩 整个历史的根曾在这里驻扎 加冷人的足迹印过 武吉士人漂泊的身影停留过 先祖的渔网撒过...
Chua Chee Lay – 同一片天 (translated by Shelly Bryant)
With deep interests across literature, visual arts, culture, education and digital technology, Chua Chee Lay’s literary writings reflect his diverse influences and span across modern poetry, prose, song lyrics and short stories. Chua holds a PhD in East Asian Language and Literature from the University of Wisconsin. A linguist, educator, award-winning poet and children’s book writer, he is also...
Three poems by Ikuko Tanaka – translated by Miho Kinnas & Shelly Bryant
1. 雪の時間 深雪に埋めつくされた苅田は見知らぬ国の原 降り積んだ雪に記憶の風が 吹き寄せ吹きだまりができる 斜面ができる さらに雪が降りさらに風が吹き やがて像の耳がかたどられていった いま おさない象が群れからはぐれたのだ はぐれた象のために 吹雪はひそかに胴体の輪郭を描いていった さらに雪は降りさらに風は吹き 胴体のつづきに長い鼻の輪郭を描いていった ああ やっと 低い声で助けの信号を送りはじめたのだ しかし 風は吹き荒れ雪を舞い上げ やっと伸ばした鼻を消し去り 胴体を消し去り 耳のかたちひとつだけを残した 谷間の川面から吹き上げる風が ほうほうと身をよじり 象とたわむれているのだ だが 聞く耳ひとつあればいい わたしは ふと自分の耳に触ってみる わたしの一番深いところでねむっている無数の耳 忘れている耳 はぐれたわたしの耳のために...
Xu Zhimo – ‘Listening to a Wagner Opera’ (translated by Shelly Bryant)
The translation of this poem was originally commissioned by Lynn Pan for use in her research for her most recent book When True Love Came to China. She has generously allowed us to reprint the work at Alluvium. When True Love Came to China can be found at Amazon. Listening to a Wagner Opera by Xu Zhimo powers divine or demonic bring forth thunderous sounds, a raw howl like waves on the wild deep;...
Shelly Bryant – five poems
SHELLY BRYANT divides her year between Shanghai and Singapore, working as a poet, writer, and translator. She is the author of eight volumes of poetry (Alban Lake and Math Paper Press), a pair of travel guides for the cities of Suzhou and Shanghai (Urbanatomy), and a book on classical Chinese gardens (Hong Kong University Press). She has translated work from the Chinese for Penguin Books, Epigram...
Shelly Bryant – six poems
SHELLY BRYANT divides her year between Shanghai and Singapore, working as a poet, writer, and translator. She is the author of eight volumes of poetry (Alban Lake and Math Paper Press), a pair of travel guides for the cities of Suzhou and Shanghai (Urbanatomy), and a book on classical Chinese gardens (Hong Kong University Press). She has translated work from the Chinese for Penguin Books, Epigram...