酷我-北美枫

[anna]

New Animal Farm

In this world, you told me
you’d better make yourself blind.

What about you, moon watcher?
You have read Animal Farm many times
and seen us, the Boxer, pigs, dogs…
and new members: doves, cats and mice.

Years ago, you warned me
that the rooster rose too quickly,
and his red crown –
suspicions of his diligence
for an early announcement of sunrise.

Pigs and dogs wouldn’t like that.
Of course, who would?
The gloom was still continuing,
cats and dogs chased each other’s shadows.
The mining business was better kept in the dark.
Fortune was for higher rank,
even though this secret wasn’t secret any more.

What about justice? I questioned.
You cut off my thoughts.
Never go that far …It is an Animal Farm.
Learn from the pigs, those who are more equal than others.
Make friends with cats.
Catch a few mice, but not too many.

“What?” I puzzled, but you turned away.
Dogs were near;
we must pretend we never talked.

Stepping on the slope, the aged
goat cleared his throat.
“Our farm becomes desert.
The power is taken by blindness.
Reform must proceed.”

But a sudden rain, and all the animals
fled to find shelter.
Without his golden Paradise umbrella,
the goat was forced to step down.

And then, I heard you, the prophet,
whisper and proclaim
“The end is not yet.”


TTQ – In your poem “New Animal Farm” you write: In this world, you told me/you’d better make yourself blind. What did you mean by that and how much of an impact did Orwell’s novel Animal Farm have on you and do you think it’s still relevant today?

Anna Yin – As you know, there are so many issues and problems on this blue planet. Sometimes I do feel if blind, it is easier to follow rules and live without asking questions. This is also true accordingly to Orwell’s novel Animal Farm. I tried to write a version of Animal Farm from my own imagination. You know, I came to Canada in 1999. Many friends were curious about what animal they would belong to according to the Chinese zodiac. They found that very interesting. They told me that in the Western world, people are basically grouped into two types: dogs and cats. I think this is precise and interesting. I also have some other purposes when I added cats and roosters in my poem. I do think The Animal Farm is still relevant today. I hope each reader will interpret the poem differently by using his/her own background. So here I will leave this open to readers.
_________________
---------------------

Anna Yin

《爱的灯塔-星子安娜双语诗选》
<Nightlights> <Seven Nights with the Chinese Zodiac> ...

http://annapoetry.com

[[星子安娜]]

New Animal Farm

In this world, you told me
you’d better make yourself blind.

What about you, moon watcher?
You have read Animal Farm many times
and seen us, the Boxer, pigs, dogs…
and new members: doves, cats and mice.

Years ago, you warned me
that the rooster rose too quickly,
and his red crown –
suspicions of his diligence
for an early announcement of sunrise.

Pigs and dogs wouldn’t like that.
Of course, who would?
The gloom was still continuing,
cats and dogs chased each other’s shadows.
The mining business was better kept in the dark.
Fortune was for higher rank,
even though this secret wasn’t secret any more.

What about justice? I questioned.
You cut off my thoughts.
Never go that far …It is an Animal Farm.
Learn from the pigs, those who are more equal than others.
Make friends with cats.
Catch a few mice, but not too many.

“What?” I puzzled, but you turned away.
Dogs were near;
we must pretend we never talked.

Stepping on the slope, the aged
goat cleared his throat.
“Our farm becomes desert.
The power is taken by blindness.
Reform must proceed.”

But a sudden rain, and all the animals
fled to find shelter.
Without his golden Paradise umbrella,
the goat was forced to step down.

And then, I heard you, the prophet,
whisper and proclaim
“The end is not yet.”


TTQ – In your poem “New Animal Farm” you write: In this world, you told me/you’d better make yourself blind. What did you mean by that and how much of an impact did Orwell’s novel Animal Farm have on you and do you think it’s still relevant today?

Anna Yin – As you know, there are so many issues and problems on this blue planet. Sometimes I do feel if blind, it is easier to follow rules and live without asking questions. This is also true accordingly to Orwell’s novel Animal Farm. I tried to write a version of Animal Farm from my own imagination. You know, I came to Canada in 1999. Many friends were curious about what animal they would belong to according to the Chinese zodiac. They found that very interesting. They told me that in the Western world, people are basically grouped into two types: dogs and cats. I think this is precise and interesting. I also have some other purposes when I added cats and roosters in my poem. I do think The Animal Farm is still relevant today. I hope each reader will interpret the poem differently by using his/her own background. So here I will leave this open to readers.
_________________
---------------------

Anna Yin

《爱的灯塔-星子安娜双语诗选》
<Nightlights> <Seven Nights with the Chinese Zodiac> ...

http://annapoetry.com

[anna]

more : http://thetorontoquarterly.blogspot.ca/2013/07/anna-yin-inhaling-silence-interview.html#!/2013/07/anna-yin-inhaling-silence-interview.html
_________________
---------------------

Anna Yin

《爱的灯塔-星子安娜双语诗选》
<Nightlights> <Seven Nights with the Chinese Zodiac> ...

http://annapoetry.com

[[星子安娜]]

more : http://thetorontoquarterly.blogspot.ca/2013/07/anna-yin-inhaling-silence-interview.html#!/2013/07/anna-yin-inhaling-silence-interview.html
_________________
---------------------

Anna Yin

《爱的灯塔-星子安娜双语诗选》
<Nightlights> <Seven Nights with the Chinese Zodiac> ...

http://annapoetry.com