Cao Yu (1910-1996) was one of China’s most renowned modern playwrights, achieving literary immortality through 《雷雨》Thunderstorm (1934) and 《日出》Sunrise (1936). He continued to publish throughout the Sino-Japanese War, including a Chinese translation of Romeo and Juliet in 1943. In his later life he was known for writing the historical drama 《王昭君》Wang Zhaojun (1978), but his attempts at promoting various regional operas, and in particular his later poetry, are less discussed. This small poetic oeuvre is collected in Vol. 6 of Cao’s Collected Works. They strike a rare chord of agony and beauty and hope, and have been discussed recently by Cao’s disciple Tian Benxiang (1932-2019) in the context of a “soul ardently hoping for freedom” (渴望自由的灵魂) (Theatre Arts 2010.6; English translation forthcoming) that characterised his teacher. The current year marks the 110th anniversary of Cao Yu’s birth, as well as significant anniversaries for other playwrights and institutional directors of the early modern theatre movement in China, inspiring more wide-ranging re-evaluations of these figures’ comprehensive work, ambitions, and ideas.

The original Chinese is presented here with permission from his daughter and memoirist Wan Fang, with gratitude.

 

Occasional Jottings While Ill

1.

Emptily gazing through thin curtains,

A full room lingering rays the entire day

A sudden view of a bare branch, crows scatter

Leaving vacant the sole shadow by the window.

2.

How can one sit arid and wait for composition,

Compose a thousand words with deeds already done?

The eighty-year-old recollects sunlight,

Bare branches still brazen with late fragrance.

25/12/1988, Beijing Hospital

 

 

病中偶记

 

一

一无所是望疏帘，

满室余晖镇日间。

忽见秃枝鸟鹊散，

空留只影对窗前。

 

二

岂能枯坐待文章，

落笔千言事已荒。

八旬老汉追白日，

秃枝犹敢晚来香。

一九八八年十二月二十五日于北京医院

 

~

Parting

 

White flowers

purple flowers

Don’t let tears flow by.

Wicker tray still last night’s wine

Let me (for you) another mouthful try–

No hanging heads, no soft hands to ply.

Rain patters, patters

The heart cries

White flowers

Purple flowers

No tears flow by

Let none flow by.

25/12/1988 before sleep at Beijing Hospital

 

别

 

白花花，

紫花花，

泪水莫要流。

竹盘还有昨夜的酒，

让我再给你喝一口，

莫低头，莫弄柔软的手手。

雨水淅沥，淅沥，

心上流淌着哀愁。

白花花，

紫花花，

泪水莫要流，

莫要流。

 

一九八八年十二月二十五日睡前于北京医院

 

~

 

If

If they all wore armor and spoke

How could my heart shine out?

If my heart likewise wore armor

How would the passionate dare come close?

I’d die a thousand times

  rather my body keep

    such a wary heart

      my entire life

 

Occasional piece written when ill in 1988

 

如果

如果大家戴着盔甲说话，

我怎能亮出我的心。

如果我的心也戴着盔甲，

火热的人怎敢与我接近。

我愿死一万次，再不愿终身这样存有戒心。

 

一九八八年病中偶作

 

~

 

A Swath of Green Leaves

A swath of green leaves, are buried deep in earth

You’ll hear my joyful laugh

Ho-ho! Ho-ho!

A baby’s voice in tender sprouts giggling

I didn’t lie–

Such a joyful voice–

Could it not be heart-sung?

12/3/1989 at Beijing Hospital

一片绿叶

 

一片绿叶，在大地里深藏，

你会听见我的欢乐的笑声，

哗哗，哗哗。

婴儿的声音在嫩牙中笑，

我没有说谎，

多么愉快的声音，

难道这不是从心里头唱。

 

一九八九年十二月三日于北京医院