A Whimsical Tale

 

This was the inspired result from listening to 英雄勝戰大渡河, same poetic theme but in environment not of the moon and flowers.  In my mind, a youth is practising his swordsmanship during a snowstorm on Mt. Heaven's Sky. A lovestruck watcher was in the shadows, not only admiring his prowess but also by his manly beauty.

The line that began all - 天山飛雪劍影寒

As I delved deeper, I told myself why being so covert in the shadows. Why not be right in the forefront and still able to harbor secret thoughts? As usual, things began to take on their own as if being guided by the hand of a Muse.

1 雪花銀影劍光寒 The cold light of a blurry sword gleaming silvery in the falling snow,

2 無情千回無限嘆 Unending sighs of a thousand rounds of viciousness,

3 師兄神威何能勝 How can I be victorious against my elder brother’s heavenly prowess?
4 眼前招架心偷漢 One eye parrying his strikes yet my heart yearns for his love.

1 寒 – cold, lacking in affection.

2 無情 – heartless, no feeling for, uncaring, ruthlessness.

3 An elder brother is a Chinese concept of a student taken in earlier by a teacher and therefore of a higher pecking order. All other factors such as age, talent or background is of no consequence in this ranking system.

4 偷漢 (to steal a man) -  said of a woman taking a lover. Of course, in this day and age, it can be otherwise.

Each line has a double meaning –his swordsmanship or something else? One can easily infer that the narrator’s swordsmanship is far. Due to the stated reason, victory could not be easily achieved. These two are either in a sparring practice or locked in mortal combat. It’s up to the reader to use his imagination.

Friday, June 4, 2021