30 Dec 2012
by smkelly8
in Holiday, poetry
Tags: Holidays, May Sarton, modern, New Year, poetry
The time has come
To stop allowing the clutter
To clutter my mind
Like dirty snow,
Shove it off and find
Clear time, clear water.
Time for a change,
Let silence in like a cat
Who has sat at my door
Neither wild nor strange
Hoping for food from my store
And shivering on the mat.
Let silence in.
She will rarely speak or mew,
She will sleep on my bed
And all I have ever been
Either false or true
Will live again in my head.
For it is now or not
As old age silts the stream,
To shove away the clutter,
To untie every knot,
To take the time to dream,
To come back to still water.
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30 Aug 2012
by smkelly8
in poetry
Tags: cherry blossoms, China, Hai Zi, modern, nature, poetry, sea
I’m having my students choose a poem and recite at the beginning of each class. It’s a lovely way to start. Here’s one that’s a translation of a Chinese Poem.
Facing the Sea With Spring Blossoms—Hai Zi
面朝大海，春暖花开—海子
From tomorrow on,I will be a happy man.
从明天起，做一个幸福的人
Grooming,chopping and traveling all over the world.
喂马，劈柴，周游世界
From tomorrow on,I will care foodstuff and vegetable.
从明天起，关心粮食和蔬菜
Living in a house towards the sea, with spring blossoms.
我有一所房子，面朝大海，春暖花开
From tomorrow on,write to each of my dear ones.
从明天起，和每一个人通信
Telling them of my happiness.
告诉他们我的幸福
What the lightening of happiness has told me.
那幸福的闪电告诉我的
I will spread it to each of them.
我将告诉每一个人
Give a warm name for every river and every mountain.
给每一条河每一座山取一个温暖的名字
Strangers,I will also wish you happy.
陌生人，我也为你祝福
May you have a brilliant future!
愿你有一个灿烂的前程
May you lovers eventually become spouses!
愿有情人终成眷属
May you enjoy happiness in this earthly world!
愿你们在尘世获得幸福
I only wish to face the sea, with spring blossoms.
我只愿面朝大海，春暖花开
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05 Jun 2012
by smkelly8
in poetry, Teaching EFL
Tags: education, literature, modern, teaching
On Flunking a Nice Boy Out of School
I wish I could teach you how ugly
decency and humility can be when they are not
the election of a contained mind but only
the defenses of an incompetent. Were you taught
meekness as a weapon? Or did you discover,
by chance maybe, that it worked on mother
and was generally a good thing—
at least when all else failed—to get you over
the worst of what was coming? Is that why you bring
these sheep-faces to Tuesday?
They won’t do.
It’s three months’ work I want, and I’d sooner have it
from the brassiest lumpkin in pimpledom, but have it
than all these martyred repentances from you.
John Ciardi
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23 May 2012
by smkelly8
in art, China, culture, expat life, museum
Tags: Art Museums, Arts and Entertainment, Asia, Beijing, China, Chinese art, modern, museum, National Art Museum of China
I spent a lovely afternoon last Saturday wandering through the galleries of the National Art Museum of China. The collection consists of paintings, drawings and sculpture from the 20th and current century.
If you’re in Beijing, I recommend this museum. It’s free if you show your passport or Chinese i.d. card, and it’s not so crowded, a rarity on the weekends.
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25 Mar 2012
by smkelly8
in art, China, photos
Tags: families, fun, kites, modern, parks, recreation, roller blading, sculpture
It was a beautiful spring day, perfect for strolling through the new sculpture park on the west side of town.
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