A City Night

[mahuairong]

(By Ma Huai-rong)



As if conducted by some evil intentions

the searchlight and the neon signs

are scribbling on the dusky sky

homework a tutor would turn down

and order to be redone a million.



It is hot, suffocating and sullen.

Then there comes a storm and rain.

For shelter huddling together strangers remain.

What to do next?

Pause and again.



The night is getting dimmer,

a nice time for making up homework.

By an open window

A pupil is obliged to hasten a composition

He’d rather concentrate neither see nor listen.



After quarreling night birds make peace.

Waste collectors cease their shouting and yelling

Still murmuring on the lips of granny

What fine fellows in day

to help repair lock and key asking no pay.



Awhile fences crossing and glass shattering

Crying, defending, beaten, beating and chasing

and fleeing into the police station,

a final, a terminal or a destination?

Safety not success is secured for the champion.



Porcelain faces send messages with bewitching eyes

in shallow shades by road lamps.

Tender fingers crossing show service prices.

Lo, over there, what part of that man’s body

Hides and shows itself above bush?



Where morning flag is to be raised,

Fast food for noon is to be served.

Over and below the ads on the balcony

cheers, laughs, turns round and tips doubled.

Luxurious cars blare, splash and glide away.



True, a city night

a dazzling scene and amazing topic

may not be proper for pupil composition.

To dwell by school is convenient.

To face a night club not always pleasant.



Now writing is the pupil yawningly sitting,

Muddled, goddess flying and swords wielding

The dead are missing the living;

The earth turns into a ball, a basket,

a biscuit or a cup of coffee.



After all, plays and kicks

have violently passed the light of day.

Now ink is drier and pen heavier.

Imagination finds it difficult

to body forth the forms of things unknown.



Shutters shut sound still peering

Televisions are turned off

Why games are still heard of?

Badges badger couples upon couples constantly

Lying consciously to argue, agree while quarrel.



Copper is so-so.

Yet silver is good.

But gold is better to be weighed for exchange.

For fear of a fake,

Let’s first deem it nothing.



Like something insomnia is also contagious.

On so spacious a wooden bed

wife vie husband, back to back.

One facing a round chair

the other the whitened wall.



Nose to nose possibly with

another figure familiar or unfamiliar

beyond a solid wall

to divide neighbor from neighbor

Blank screens sometimes suggest a lot



The pen on paper is creeping like a snail

Without shining morning face

The brain feels it hard to concentrate

What sound is that along with the easy wind?

Snoring or drinking or biting at bread?



Survival besides safety except success

A theme immortal for any age bracket

Unemployment and dismissal are not so terrible

Terrible is earthquake at such a second.

For Chinese linger to death is better than hasten



Living for bread or vice versa?

No, no, no.

Yea, yea, yea.

A thousand tracks to follow during night

still to sell bean curd at daybreak.



False a human being

True the human nature.

( Qingdao University China)
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You see me, you lose me

[Lake]

Welcome on board, mahuairong.

I see you have good control of the English language. I usually read a poem two or three times before commenting, since this one is too long, I only read it once. Then I must've missed something here, if so, sorry for that.

The scene in this poem is a bit too busy to my taste, though I see a busy city night I feel I'm kind of lost in grasping the main idea. The language is well executed, but there are a few places where the expressions are kind of old to the modern content.

These are just my personal opinions. Let's see what other people think.

Hope you can stay and give your suggestions to others' works.

Enjoyed it nonetheless.

Lake
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the trouble with poetry is that it encourages the writing of more poetry -- Billy Collins

[mahuairong]

Dear Lake, thanks for your comments. This is the first English poem I have written.
I put it here just to know what you and other people think. in this way, i can make progress. Thanks!!
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You see me, you lose me

[戴玨]

As if conducted with some evil intentions
Under shelter huddling together strangers remain.
He’d rather concentrate than see or listen.

"and order to be redone a million."這行應是前面句子的一部分吧？但沒看明白。
"Pause and again." again what?

By an open window
A pupil is obliged to hasten a composition
He’d rather concentrate neither see nor listen.
第一字的大小寫清楚點會好點，前面幾節都清楚。
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I labour by singing light
我的blog
我的專欄

[mahuairong]

i am open to criticism and opinions from dear friends. thanks
_________________
You see me, you lose me

[Lake]

[mahuairong]

dear Lake,

To tell the truth, it is true that this is the first poem i've ever written. To be more specific, i am a teacher of Chinese writing, and aprreciation of literary works in teh Chinese Department of Qingdao University.

So far i have published a novel entitled "对门" which you can search and learn about on the internet.

these days i have been reading shakepeare and Whitman and feel the impuse to compose poems.

I look forward to more comments of yours. Thanks
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You see me, you lose me

[Lake]

I see. At least you didn't start from zero, your "对门" proves that you have a solid foundation. I'll see if I can find it. Thanks.
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the trouble with poetry is that it encourages the writing of more poetry -- Billy Collins