Song of the Week

This is one of my favorite songs from the Hmong rock band, The Sounders.  It conveys a sort of nostalgic, haunting feeling of unfulfilled love between a couple in the old days.  So while listening to it about two years ago, it became an inspiration for a subplot to my in-progress story, Nkauj Nog.  Keep an eye out for that...

The Sounders – Puas Kho Koj Siab

Verse 1

Qaim lub hli

The moon is full

Es koj puas tseem nco txog

Do you still remember (me)?

Kuv tseem nco koj xwb

I still remember you only

Kuv tseem tshua koj xwb

I am still fond of you only

Tus duab ntxoov ntxoo

The shadow

Uas nyob ntawm kuv ib sab

That stands beside me

Zoo li twb yog koj

It seems as if it is you

Cas ho tsis yog koj

But it is not you

Song of the Week

(I thought this was a really nice Hmong Chinese song, to be exact the singer is Ahmao, but it was a bit of a challenge to understand and translate because the singer has an accent.  I couldn't really make out some of the words she was singing in the chorus in particular, so I tried my best to translate so that it makes some sense.)

Luo Na Yi - Koj Tias Kuv Tsis Hlub

Koj tias, kuv zoo xws rev paj tawg

You said that I am like a blooming flower

Tsuas yog pom kuv luag ntxhi

As long as I smile

Koj tsuas zoo siab

You are happy

Koj tias, koj tsuas hlub kuv ib leeg

You said that you would love only me

Yuav hlub txog hnub uas kawg koj lub neej

Love till the last day of your life

Nkauj Nog Chapter 1

The color of the morning sky did not change much from its night counterpart.  The clouds appeared liked a herd of gigantic dark and angry elephants, readied to destroy anyone and anything in its path.  The wind blew turbulently at times, flaunting its prowess and forcing everything except the sturdiest object to bend before its greatness.  The heavens did not smile with its bright orange flames, but instead, wished to cry any minute.  It seemed as if the heavens was moved by the goodness of someone below, and pitied that person very much.

A woman, slender and graceful, stood patiently by the gate of a manor as if waiting for her husband.  Although there were loud cheers and laughter vibrating from inside the main courtyard, the woman’s face was pale and wet with tears.  She looked past the gate to the far distance, and then back at her abdomen.  She touched it and more tears flowed down her cheeks.  Her husband did not know that she was with child for a few months already.

“Nyab—Sister-in-Law!” a woman called from behind.

“Mab, it’s you,” the woman by the gate turned around and answered.

“Nyab, don’t shed anymore tears.  I too am saddened by what my brother has done to you, but no matter what, what has been done has already been done.  Whether anyone likes it or not, Luj Tuam is bringing his second wife home today.  Let’s just consider that this is your fate so the only thing you can do now is continue to be a good-hearted person who does the right thing.  One day, the sky will brighten and my brother will see your goodness.”

Nkauj Nog Prologue

            Once upon a time, the Miao lived in the fertile valley of the Yellow River.  Although majestic and grand, the river often flooded during the rainy season and swallowed many lives.  For some, the catastrophic circumstance was so intolerable that they were prompted to follow Txiv Yawg—Chiyou, to the northern land where they established the magnificent, technologically-advanced Kuj Cuab Cuaj Lig Ntuj—Juili Kingdom.  It was only after Txiv Yawg was defeated and lost his life at Lima Pass to the Yellow Emperor—Huangdi, that the Juili Miao crossed the river once more and returned south to reunite with their Miao relatives.

The Juili Miao soon discovered that their southern counterparts were scattered everywhere, dwelling a poor and backward lifestyle that lacked structure, leadership, and unity as a people.  They knew that in order to lead a life of comfort and prosperity, the Miao people must be organized into a civilization.  Thus, the Juili Miao became the leaders and applied Txiv Yawg’s innovative and profound principles of governorship, development, and solidarity to change the future of the Miao.  But the Miao homeland was impressive.  To reduce the daunting task of governing such an enormous country where some citizens may not even be aware of the existence of a monarch, the Miao leaders decided that it was wisest to divide the land into three kingdoms to better facilitate the process of ruling a people.  The western kingdom became known as Cuaj Zag—Nine Dragons; the middle kingdom was known as Lig Xia—Blue Li; and the eastern kingdom was termed Ntuj Kag—Clear Heavens.  So for a period of time this notion of governance flourished, and the three kingdoms existed peacefully and harmonically—prospering together.

But civilization and progress often lured attention, jealousy, and lust from neighbors.  Lingering in the northern land was the old nemesis of the Juili Miao—the Suav, descendants of the Yellow Emperor and his people.  Their population was booming but land became scarce.  When they heard of the prolific soil in the south, they gradually embarked on the journey south like large groups of infesting locusts and began to intrude and rob land away from the native inhabitants until they finally approached the northern border of the three kingdoms. 

Leej Nus Ntxim Hlub

              “General Manager, you are my most loyal employee and friend,” the chairman said.  A man of robust and charismatic features, there were light patches of skinfolds around his eyes, his hair had a mixture of gray and white strands, and he appeared overwhelm and tire.  “Tell me honestly, except for Suab Kaj, don’t you find the rest of my daughters very useless?”

                “Chairman, I…” the general manager answered hesitatingly.

                “You don’t need to pity anyone of them,” the chairman brushed his secretary off.  “I am their father.  I know how they are.  The eldest spends all her time shopping and making herself look pretty, the second one cares only about cooking, the third and fourth are flirtatious silly girls who hit on every man they see…old or young, the fifth is a bookworm who spits out nonsense every time she opens her mouth, and the sixth…well…she just doesn’t say or do much.  And who is to blame for all of this?”

                “No one, Chairman.”

                “That’s where you are wrong, General Manager!” the chairman shouted.  “You need not be afraid of being frank to me.  You should say that everything is your fault, Chairman.  You were the one too busy running your business that you’ve neglected your family.  Without their mother, instead of showering them with love, you’ve showered them with money to make up for the times you couldn’t spend with them.  In the end, it was you who turned them into useless creatures who can be of no help to you...again, except for the little one.  Thank the heavens for giving her a little more wit than her sisters.”  He sighed.  “But I won’t live forever to take care of them.  What will their lives become when I perish one day?   So General Manager, ask me how I’m going to fix this mess?”

A Candlelight Dream

 



            The beat of the Miao drum rumbles fiercely like thunder, like the beating heart of a people whose hope for freedom sways with the flickering of a candle’s flame.  Blood splatters everywhere, the cries of injustice echoing throughout the majestic hillsides.  I walk through the scene one last time, untainted by its brutality.  I feel like a mere helpless transparent ghost who can only glance from afar.  No matter how much I scream, no matter how much my heart ache with theirs—I can do nothing now.  The two worlds are drifting apart and I am being pulled back to the life I once knew. 

            I stare at an oil-painting of a young and beautiful Manchu princess sitting next to her husband.  “Isn’t she beautiful?” I ask.  “But she’s not coming back.  That’s the path that she has chosen.  Don’t worry.  Perhaps that’s her fate.  She will be happy there.”  I smile, and my stepmother weeps.

            But deep down in my heart, I know that I will miss her—my half-sister.  In this lifetime, I will never meet her again.  This is my punishment, for neglecting a beloved sister in this world and for turning an innocent young lady into a demon.  But no matter how much hatred is in her heart, perhaps she is the stronger one; the one who is willing to trade a life here for that life there, simply to be able to live with him and be loved for who she is.

            It is me, who is the real coward.  Like I’ve abandoned her here, I have once more decided to abandon him there. 

Every time I close my eyes, I still see him standing there—playing his qeej beautifully and happily beside the luxuriant blue bamboo forest.  The waterwheels cranked melodically and harmonically, pouring clear water into the river that was so clear the pebbles at the bottom appeared liked a well-played chess game.  That’s the image that I want to forever remember of him.    

But I know his ending too well.  Whether I stay with him or not, I cannot change what is predestined to happen.  It is better that I not see his tragic ending.

            Love, however, is something that defies the test of time, the will of heaven, and the laws of the universe.  No matter where we both are, our hearts will always be together.

            I know that in spring when I admire the pink blooming plum buds, he smiles with me; in summer when my hands are touching the cool June rain, his hands are brushing past the dripping heavenly water too; in autumn when the dancing leaves make my heart withers, he too longs for my presence; and in winter when snowflakes flutter gracefully to weave the earth ground into a soft blanket, we will both walk together under the magical winter moonlight.  With every step I take to glide forward, he moves with me.  Although we can no longer see each other, we’ve never parted…

            So they are among us and we are among them.  The two worlds march forward in synchrony and harmony.  We need their world to keep going so that we may be their future.  And we need to keep going so that our descendants may have a future.  And thus the two worlds continue to move apart with every click of time until someday when the right conditions bring the parallel worlds to meet once more...          



Hmong Poetic Short Story

I found this while browsing youtube about a year ago.  At first, it was the daunting background music that caught my attention but as I repeated the video a few times, I began to pay attention to the spoken words and realized that this guy, Liaj Xyum Vaj, has a pretty amazing talent for Hmong speech.  He is able to tell a short story that was compelling while poetic.  It is something that I struggle to achieve, but because I'm more fluent in English than Hmong I am limited in my ability to produce poetic pieces.

Below I've picked the part of Liaj Xyum Vaj's two-parts video that I like.  Initially, I attempted to translate everything into English but found the task very difficult and decided not to do so because there are words and phrases that have no English equivalent.  But I think that to truly appreciate the beauty of the Hmong words, it should be left as is.  I've reproduced the writing in Hmong below (along with his audio for those who cannot read Hmong), and in parenthesis provided rough meanings to the words or phrases that are not common in colloquial Hmong for those of you who read Hmong but whose Hmong comprehension is limited to basic speech.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Muaj ib tag kis thaum sawv ntxov, lub hnub tawm liab pliv puag tim npoo ntuj (horizon).  Txawm hnov ib lub suab me nyuam mos liab quab peb zag nrog leej niam leej txiv lub suab nqee (happy parentese).  Peb tag kis tom qab ntawv txawm muaj npe thiab loj hlob tuaj yuav ua paj paws (to jump or leap happily) luag ntxhawv ntxhi ncav tes nuag (to extend the arms to hold) tuav tag leej niam leej txiv lub nqaws tsho (shirt buttons), tawb (to flirt) tag txhua leej txhua tus lub siab ntshaw.  Tsis muaj puas tsawg xyoo rov tuaj rau tom qab, yuav txawj ris dej txiav taws.  Tawm rooj plaws (to step beyond the house door) yuav ua me hlab ntxhoo (I'm thinking this is the Hmong sashes worn on the waist) ntxhee yees (wavy)  zoo tam zoj li tsis tau muaj dua nyob rau hauv lub ntiaj teb no, ua rau me leej nus Hmoob lub siab lub ntsws ntxeev (reverse) tag zoo tam zoj li toj rooj hauv pes nphau (to fall).  Me leej nus Hmoob xav zoj los mob siab thiaj li tsa ncauj hu hais tias, “Me leej muam, tus me kab lia tom txij nko (cute dimples) ua nkauj nyob tus me zoo zoo nkauj li koj puas tau muaj hmoob nco?”

Me leej muam thiaj li teb hais tias, “Leej nus Hmoob, kuv ua nkauj nyob tus me kab lia tom txij nkoov (cute dimples) tawm rooj plaws fim (to represent) tag leej niam leej txi txhais nrhoob (leggings worn by Hmong women) los twb tsis tau muaj hmoob.”

Txij li hnub ntawv los me leej nus Hmoob thiaj li maj mam ntoj qab roob pus qab ha (follow the base of mountains and valleys).  Toj roob hauv pes yog qhov chaw nce toj roob hauv hav yog qhov chaws mus, maj mam ntoj ib hnub thawm ib hlis maj mam puv ib hlis thawm ib xyoos (slowly use time).  Me leej nus Hmoob thiaj li khaws tau me leej muam txoj kev hlub coj los puag pw.  Tiam sis leej nus Hmoob lub siab lub ntsws ntshai rwg (to constantly worry) tsam me leej muam txoj kev hlub rais los ua ib txog kev (becomes the factor that influences) rau leej nus Hmoob tus ntsuj plig mus thawj thiab (reincarnation of his spirit).

Vim me leej nus xaiv tau lub neej txom nyem nyob rau tiam no, tawm rooj plaws los ntshai luag thuam rov ntsuj (a fancy Hmong way to say "to return") los txog tsev los ntshai luag hais.  Ua neej nyob tsis phim luag zej luag zos xav kom tuag mus los tseem ntshaw txoj kev hlub.  Me leej nus thiaj li hais rau me leej muam hais tias, “Me leej muam, cas tiam no koj yuav los ntsib ib tug tib neeg nyob li tus puav (bats) khiav li tus ntses es koj puas nrog kuv tu siab thiab os?”

Me leej muam thiaj li teb hais tias, “Me leej nus Hmoob, koj tsis txhob tu siab mog.  Yog muaj ib hnub twg, txoj hmoov tsis muaj es koj mus ua tus ntses ces kuv yuav mus ua tus dej yog koj mus ua tus puav ces kuv yuav mus ua daim nplooj rau koj tau nkaum nag os.”

Txij thaum ntawv los, me leej muam thiab me leej nus thiaj li tau sib ntoj siv thuv (he visits her every day and night for many years) lub niaj thawm lub xyoo lub hnub thawm lub hli.  Ua cas muaj ib hmos, dab ntub los tsis tuaj npau suav los tsis ua kaj ntug rov tuaj tag kis txawm pom luag hu noj nqaij haus cawv.  Me leej nus Hmoob mam li tsa loo muag ntsia uas cas me leej muam sawv kev yeev ntawm luag rooj tshoob, tsoos tsho los hnav txhij khaub ncaws los hnav txhua.  Me leej nus Hmoob, xav zoj los mob siab txhos caug ntua thov lub ntuj thiab daim av los nqaij luag noj tag, tshoob luag ua dua cev nkauj xwb sua yeev rau luag npab (virgin body given to the groom) cev nkauj nyab nyob luag tes.  Me leej nus Hmoob, xav zoj los chim siab nkaus hlo ntaj (snatches his sword) rau ntawm duav ua roj sib yiag (sneakily) mus tos ntua kuv niam leej ntxhais rau lub dawm zeb (an area next to a rocky ridge line).  Me leej nus Hmoob tsa muag zaj saib ua cas pom me leej muam ua me plaub hau ntxhee ntxhias (silky and wavy) plaub muag dauv lawv (long, flowing eye-lashes), lawv tag luag leej tub leej roog qab (following another man).  Me leej nus yoj teg yim taw (wave his hands and feet) los me leej muam ua txoj ua tug tsis pom tsis ntsia.  Ib vuag dhau plaws (an experience that hastily passes) ntawm thaj me chaw tos rov ntsuj los txog tsev zoo yam nkaus li lub ntiaj teb no kub hnyiab tag nrho mus li lawm os me leej muam.

 

 

I made this video a couple of months ago and I think it matches this story pretty well; I just realized that this song is a cover of Unique 3's Hlub Tsis Yooj Yim as well but the lyrics is completely changed...I still like it though :)

 

Song of the Week

Tsim Laj Muas & Mog Mim Yaj - Kev Hlub Yam Dej Ntws Tsis Rov

Guy:

Kuv tau hlub nrog koj ib zaug

I have loved you once

Los yuav tsis tau koj coj los ua kuv tug

But I don’t have the luck of getting you to be mine

Wb txoj kev hlub

Our love

Kuv yuav muab khaws zoo cia

I will keep it well

Cim koj tseg rau nruab siab

You will be imprinted in my heart (the literal translation is “You will be imprinted in my liver" because for the Hmong people, to love comes from the liver and not the heart; heart in Hmong is "plawv" and the word "plawv" sounds harsh to the ear)

Cim koj cia rau ntsiab muag

You will be imprinted in my eyes (more specifically "the cornea")

Song of the Week

While writing The Magnificient Seven, I suddenly felt nostalgic of this old Hmong song by the group Unique 3 because I think the music matches the ambience of The Magnificent Seven very well.  Alongside Unique 3's version, I decided to post Pov Thoj's cover of the song (I believe his lyrics is slightly altered), Npis Yaj and Christal Vaj's cover, and the instrumental.  Enjoy...listen to the music while you read the story...I think it will help put you in the mood...

Unique 3 - Hlub Tsis Yooj Yim

Pov Thoj - Hlub Tsis Yooj Yim 



 

Npis Yaj & Christal Vaj - Hlub Tsis Yooj Yim

Instrumental - Hlub Tsis Yooj Yim



Unique 3 - Hlub Tsis Yooj Yim

Verse 1

Lub Ntuj Tsaus Nti Muaj Ntau Hnub Qub Ci

(Although) there are many stars twinkling in the dark (night) sky

Los Kuv Tsuas Muaj Koj Ib Leeg Xwb

There is only you for me (or I have only you)

Koj Muaj Nuj Nqis Tshaj Plaws

You are the most valuable

Kuv Paub Koj Zoo Tshaj

I know you best

Kuv Zoo Siab Heev Thaum Kuv Los Nyob Ze Koj

I’m happy when I’m near (next to) you

Song of the Week

Thoos Hawj - Looj Ceeb Zos Ywj Pheej

Hmo no cua tuaj nplawm ntws no ntxiag

The wind blows chillingly tonight

Ntsia hnub qub tawm tuaj dawb vog

(I look at) the appearing white stars

Rov nco nco tus neeg tag los

(It makes me) nostalgic of the past someone

Uas tau sib hlub hauv nroog Looj Ceeb

(That I've) loved in the city of Long Cheng

Tus neeg kuv hlub

My love

Xav los txog sib ncaim lawm ntev

When thinking about it, (we’ve) been separated for a long time already