POEM TRANSLATION ECHOES 457, WITH NOTES

POEM TRANSLATION ECHOES 457, WITH NOTES

TINKER AND TUMBLE

(叮当和滾落)

storm, light and thunder

風暴雷鸣光

flashes on face across frame

在框架上闪过脸

thermos on the table

金瓶在桌上

curtains to cover

窗帘以遮蓋

fiery flare and fire farther

燃燒火焰閃更遠

cross by clear conscience

良心的交叉

awakened by awe

被敬畏喚醒

tinkering thought strike in rain

叮当心思雨中撞

tumble out of bed

从床上滾落

Note:

I prefer to stay in a room with a window, facing a park, as shown in the picture. In a stormy night, the lightning flashes across the window frame. I was awakened by the salvoes of loud thunder. I woke up to pull the curtains. I then moved the metal thermos and hand phone away from the window, afraid it might be a target for the thunder. Initially it was a biological response, but the train of thought went berserk, initiated by pangs of transgression.

 Living as decent as possible in a market driven world, it is doubtful that any soul can have a clear conscience. Crossing my heart, it is not possible to live well without any blame or stain. Even with the best aspiration to begin a medical career, we pick up specks of dust and dirt in the training, side tracked by the lure of  medical, pharmaceutical, diary , nutritional ,agricultural and allied industries; changing guidelines and sponsorships; not updated evidence based science, good and faked alternative care; thoughts on family, work-life balance, income and responsibilities. Indeed how to be free and blameless in so varied domain.

The heavy rainfall strikes on the ground, river and air conditioning metal units, producing tinkering sound, reminiscent of simple yester years. The fear of being strike by thunder, even indoors, is minimal, but is reported, with all our electronic devices and metals exposed to outside. The awe, initiated endless circular thinking, causing insomnia. The lightning and thunder trigger fear, thoughts set in ad infinitum, causing sleeplessness. To break the vicious cycle, I fell out of bed, penned it down on papers, relieved by the out pouring of emotion, returned to sleep soundly.  

The first picture is Pinnacle Duxton; the second are rows of refurnished old heritage building along Ann Siang Hiil. All pictures are taken in Singapore.

2 thoughts on “POEM TRANSLATION ECHOES 457, WITH NOTES

  1. Claudia McGill

    What you have written is straight to the point and crystal clear truth. Try as much as we can, the world touches us, good and bad both, and the best we can do is to try to resist the bad and hold to the good. Not easy. Lightning often strikes, but then, rain comes down and washes away. A cycle.

    Reply
    1. wonkywizard Post author

      Yes, Claudia. Lightning and thunder are warning to guard our wide opened windows; the light to show our placement and the sound to jolt us. The awe from outside in. The rain washes away the dirt and dust collected. The cycle of birth and death of desires.

      Reply

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