Father's Steppe, Mother's River Poem by Yiyan Han

Written by Xi Murong
Translated by Yiyan Han (c)
2018-01-26


- This is a poem by the famous poetess Xi Murong who,
a Mongolian descendant, lives in Taiwan. It's been composed
as a well known popular Chinese song.


My dad has described the delicate fragrance
Of land of grass that he never forgets
No matter where he is
My mum always depicts the river of mighty
Running in the Mongolian plateau
Of my ancestors' home far far away

Now standing on and seeing this vast land
At last, and taking a breath of fresh air
Of its green grass, I'm deeply moved and my teardrops
Fall like rain. The river is singing my ancestral praise
And worship songs, blessing the wandering children
To find the way home

Though no longer expressing my emotions
In mother tongue, O, my dear fellow ethnics
Please accept my sorrows as well as happiness
O, I'm a child of the plateau too
In my heart, having a love song
Of my father's steppe and mother's river

O, I'm a child of the plateau too
In my heart, having a love song
Of my father's steppe and mother's river