Post ATR6XhAMQ64zB7rVSK by zoec@deadinsi.de
 (DIR) More posts by zoec@deadinsi.de
 (DIR) Post #ATR6XgFznezcMJUUbI by zoec@deadinsi.de
       2023-03-09T09:20:59Z
       
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       I haven't posted under #VerseThursday for a while, because life happens.And then I feel this free-form poem from 100 years ago is so pertinent to our world and our experiences in it today.Grassesby Lōa Hô (賴和, 1894--1943)Spring is here. In the soil,Where hooves used to trample,Grasses are about to come out.With unconstrained force of lifeThe grasses, swaying, stretching,Spring up — as if by volition!And they seem to say,“We don’t care. The one who is to grow, grows. Sweet dew is upon us; a warm wind is blowing.The time is now: We can no longer stay buried.Trample they may as well;We have a duty to fulfil.”on the night of 25 December, 1922[?]
       
 (DIR) Post #ATR6XhAMQ64zB7rVSK by zoec@deadinsi.de
       2023-03-09T09:25:14Z
       
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       If you like what I do, please consider supporting me - I appreciate your kindness.Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/zoetranslates/goal?g=10(Where you can also read the poem)Liberapay (recurrent only): https://liberapay.com/ZoeTranslates/
       
 (DIR) Post #ATR6XiG4MMEwZ7XZzc by zoec@deadinsi.de
       2023-03-09T09:50:03Z
       
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       I also attached the original text in the version on my websitehttps://zoe-translat.es/translations/grasses-loa-ho/This poem was originally an expression of anti-colonial sentiments.The form was free, and I tried to loosely follow the rhythm of the original.The year (1922) was inferred from the notes to this poem in the book 《賴和全集》(complete works).Somehow, I feel that this is a poem for me, and perhaps also for a lot of us - who are facing the threat of literal eradication and other structural threats.We will resist, grow, thrive, and bear witness to each other.