Shirley Created Music For Chinese Classical Poem -0053: Hui Xiang Ou Shu -- Casual Writing After Returning Hometown

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Hi, friends, have you had any experience that when you were very young, you had to leave from your hometown and went to somewhere far away to work or to study for many years. Then, when you come back your home, your local accent has not changed, but, your hair has gray, so that the local children consider you as s guest and wonder where you are from ... :-)

This is just the meaning in one of the Tang Dynasty poem by He Zhizhang that I had introduced for you last August. But then, I had no ability to create a piece of music to match it and also I had no a database to make the new words to be used repeat, also, I could not make a new words board... Now, things have changed a lot. So, I would like to re-edit it and try to improve the quality of this part on the web site.

I have written a piece of music for it and hope you enjoy it. I do hope that my effort would like a little bit help to you to know more about Chinese culture and language... :-)

MAIN MEANING OF THE POEMLISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM

I left from home when I was young,
I return back when I am old..
My local accent has not changed,
my temples' hair has been sparse.
Local children meet me and do not know me,
So, they call me guest and ask me with smile,
"Where are you from, stranger?

Attaching a Translation By Hundred Flower Publish House:

On Homecoming

I left home young and now return when I am old;
Not in my speech but thin hair my change would be told.
Boys meet but know me not. They look at me awhile;
“Stranger, where are you from? ” they ask me with a smile.

NEW WORDS AND RONUNCIATION :

Please hit any Chinese character that you need help with, to see its Chinese pinyin, pronunciation, and meaning and follow me to read it.

CHINESE CHARACTERS

回乡偶书

贺之章   （唐）

少小离家老大回，
乡音未改鬓毛衰。
儿童相见不相识，
笑问客从何处来。


LISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM

If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn , or shirleyz004@yahoo.com, You are welcome to publish your opinions in Forum For Friends as well.
--Shirley
Written, Sung, Translated and Recorded on Sun, Oct 28, 2006