A Mosquito-Ruined Night(Jiāng Chéng Zǐ) Poem by Perdita Young (Hanna Wang)

江城子 蚊祸

昨宵蚊子太猖狂，
忽飞扬，忽潜藏，
锦屏素幔，
纷扰起苍黄。
为免叮咬追捕莽，
齐上阵，跃腾遑。

手持电拍谱新章，
忍悲怆，桌椅旁：
我明敌暗，
何以舞刀枪？
纵有豪情冲霄汉，
虫未灭，我心伤。

Tune: A Riverside Town
A Mosquito-ruined Night

Mosquitoes seemed mad and crazy last night,
Now dashing, now hiding, ready to bite.

Confusion thus arose, to my reluctance,
Midst curtains and screens, bright and white.

The battle was well justified, 'tis something right,
A just cause, against pests' stings and bite.

A electronic bat held in my hand left,
I hastily composed this verse on the instant,
Trying to refrain from sorrow and grief,
And brooded at my computer, feeling no relief.

The enemies are in hiding, while I exposed,
What's the use of spears and guns, as oft posed?
Lofty sentiments might fly high to th' skies, 'tis true,
But pests remain pests, causing distress anew.

June 8th,2009, a much-disturbed sleepless night.