Haizi – Looking Toward The Sea

Haizi


In today’s podcast, we will take a look back at Haizi, post-1979 China’s most famous poet. Previously, in this episode, we talked about Haizi in this mythologically laced poem.  Today, we’re going to take a look at his most famous poem, called “Facing the Sea, the Spring Warm, Flowers Blooming.”

Below, Lee has provided a translation:

 

Facing the Sea, the Spring Warm, Flowers Blooming

From tomorrow, I will be a happy person

Feeding horses, chopping firewood, wandering the world

From tomorrow, I’ll be concerned with the grains and vegetables

I will have a room, facing the sea, the spring warm, the flowers blooming

 

From tomorrow, I’ll send a letter to each of my kin

Tell them that I am happy

What that happy lightening tells me

I will tell each one of them

 

I will give every river and every mountain a warm name

Stranger, I will also wish you good fortune

I hope you have bright prospects

I hope your lovers become spouses

I hope you are happy in this mortal coil

I just hope to face the ocean, the spring warm, the flowers blooming

 

By Haizi

Translation by Lee Moore

 

Here’s the original on Baidu, along with their horrible English translation.

 

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