Senjecas - Poems

Li Po

• You ask me why I dwell in the green mountain.

tu mum me̋ta xą́ru mum ða̋lo ǧarős éna ɱę̋su:

t-u	m-um	me̋t-a	xą́ru	m-um	ða̋l-o	ǧar-ős	éna	ɱę̋s-u
2.NOM.SG	1.MOT.SG	ask-IND	why	1.MOT.SG	green-ATT	mountain-STA.SG	in	dwell-SUP

• I smile and make no reply for my heart is free of care.

mu ṁősa: ne̋xo kı̋rom kı̋ra: hi mu-sűðo zı̋þős šę̋vo e̋sa:

m-u	ṁős-a	ne̋x-o	kı̋r	om	kı̋r-a	hi	mu=sűð-o	zı̋þ-ős	šę̋v-o	e̋s-a
1-NOM.SG	smile-IND	no-ATT	reply-MOT.SG	reply-IND	because	my=heart-NOM.SG	care-STA.SG	free-NOM.SG	be-IND

• As the peach blossom flows downstream and is gone into the unknown,

mǫ́di tefna̋no cáxmu dą̋a: alsą̋raþom éna kɪkę̋da:

mǫ́di	tef.na̋n.o	cáxmu	dą̋-a	al-są̋r-a-þ-om	éna	kɪ~kę̋d-a
as	peach.blossom.NOM.SG	downstream	flow-IND	un-know-IND-PPTCP-MOT.SG	in	PRF~pass-IND

• I have a world apart that is not among men.

mǫ́di—ȝo ɱirűm ȝúca e̋sa ne—v̌ę̋to mús o šú e̋sa:

mǫ́di	ȝo	ɱir-űm	ȝúca	e̋s-a	ne	v̌ę̋t-o	m-ús	o	šú	e̋s-a
so	that	man-STA.PL	among	be-IND	not	world-NOM.SG	1.STA.SG	to	apart	be-IND

Qingming, Chinese

• A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;

cı̋no mįmaha̋s kinőm sóma fǫ̋la:

cı̋n-o	mįm-ah-a̋s	kɪ̋n-on	sóma	fǫ̋l-a
drizzle-NOM.SG	mourn-day-STA.SG	tear-MOT.PL	like	fall-IND

• The mourner's heart is breaking on his way.

mįɱű' sűðo nu-ata̋s éna ȝa̋fa:

mįɱ-ű-'	sűð-o	nu=at-a̋s	éna	ȝa̋f-a
mourner-STA.SG.-ELIS	heart-NOM.SG	his=way.STA.SG	in	break-IND

• Where can a winehouse be found to drown his sadness?

ɱóinpǫȝde̋mo náru -de̋saþo ı̋lu mą̋ᵹa— tą́di nu-se̋ugam ǧa̋ðo:

ɱóin-pǫide̋m-o	náru	de̋s-a-þ-o	ı̋l-u	mą̋ᵹ-a	tą́di	nu=se̋ug-am	ǧa̋ð-o
wine-tavern-NOM.SG	where	find-IND-PPTCP-NOM.SG	become-SUP	be.able-IND	in.order.to	his=sadness-MOT.SG	drown-SUB

• A cowherd points to Almond Flower Village in the distance.

ɱaxkǫ̋flu þifa̋s míᵹdalnanda̋bom sų̋ta⋮

ɱax-kǫ̋fl-u	þif-a̋s	míᵹdal-nan-da̋b-om	sų̋t-a
cow-herder-NOM.SG	distance-STA.SG	almond-blossom-village-MOT.SG	point.to-IND

Haiku #1

• The piercing chill I feel:

My dead wife's comb, in our bedroom,

Under my heel.

• Mi ni shimu ya

Naki tsuma ni kuchi wo

Neya ni fumu.

• mu tų̋danto sőȝom űta:

ne̋cu mu-kozűs kı̨̋flom. ɱu-šefterős éna

mu-ðosős néra:

m-u	tų̋d-a-nt-o	sőȝ-om	űt-a
1.NOM.SG	pierce-IND-APTCP-ATT	chill-MOT.SG	feel-IND

ne̋c-u	mu=koz-űs	kı̨̋fl-om	ɱu=šefter-ős	éna
dear-ATT	my=wife-STA.SG	comb-MOT.SG	our=bedroom-STA.SG	in

mu=ðos-ős	néra
my=heel-STA.SG	under