Let's enjoy composing poems about Mao!

emory903, thank you for your comment.  I'm glad you like it.  I like your picture.  Hydrangeas are my favorite.  You have posted here 99.  Wow   

Dear Mao

It has been raining for three days
Rain makes soils rich
Trees
Grasses
And flowers
I don’t know
Your decision yet

In May
You have time to think about it
I hope you will find the right way for yourself
It is Your life
Nobody can force what you do
So please decide by yourself about your future

If you were my daughter
I would worry about your health
If you were my sister
I could support you as long as possible

I just think I am lucky
To be able to live with you in this world
Even though it is far from here

At noon, on the 14th of April, today
my daughter was born 17 years ago
I wish I could believe in her and make her dream come true

It is you!

On the way to the place where I work
There are lots of hydrangeas along the stream
I took some pictures of them yesterday morning
They were like people who smiled and said good morning

When I look down
On the ground
I can see you
You are standing
At the same time you are bending
I can see your lovely faces

You go to university every day studying psychology, Russian ..
You feel refreshed to be a student again
You said if you had a part-time job
Maybe working at a café was nice

I don’t think it would happen
But imagine
She serves you at a café
It would make her closer to us

When you were asked about what you could do well
You answered,
Good at eating fish properly

You have not decided about the future yet
It is easy to talk about dreams or goals without thinking deeply
If you are not sure
It would be more frustrated
But you are always nice to everything

What a down to earth person you are!

You have never been self-centered
You have been generous to others
You have an unbreakable spirit and curiosity about life

The Prima ballerina stretches her wings high into the sky
in agile arabesques, lithe leg extensions, fan and Y spirals
that carve wide open arcs spanning the ice,
like the arched necks of two swans
caressing each others beaks
to form a warm and loving valentine,
thawing the frozen pond on which she glides
in the gentle wake of Springtime.

She cradles her lovely limb lifted
perpendicular behind her back,
as she extends her chest sideways.
Her hand, head and arm open wide
in a warm and welcoming gesture
that embraces her audience with a tender smile.

Some birds of prey may dart higher
and dive faster to capture their kill
since Speedy demons set up a system
to clip the wings of the graceful, agile angel.

But, the soaring swan in her pure white feather dress
remains unruffled, sweeping us away to a beautiful oasis,
where the pure and powerful flow of her expressive soul
quenches our thirst like the surge of sweet spring water
from deep beneath the earth's surface.

But, now that she has enriched our spirits,
I hope she fulfills her dream of lighting for a while
on a tropical island and reclining
beneath a coconut grove.

We will look for her to leave her perch of learning at university next season.  
But, if she has grown weary of Speedy’s futile chase to erase her greatness,
we will always adore her for being the Consummate Spiritual Warrior
that brought heart, purity, fight and light exquisite positions and lines
to a sport where it is rapidly vanishing.

And in her absence the triple axel, stunning step sequences
and that wonderful wave-like flow in every motion
that moves the emotions like the moon does the ocean
are an ebb tide receding towards extinction.
Flying away from this earthly place like the whooping crane  
Exclusively seen  in her exhibitions.

I got the idea to write this from this article and pictures I saw at the following website showing the ways Mao is better than Kim. I think I already posted it, but it is so good at justifying Mao’s greatness and the injustice of the scoring system, that I decided to do it again.

http://debrainwash.blogspot.com/2014/02/yuna-kims-marks-are-fixed-by-goe-and.html

Thank you so much Samurai Mao for your amazingly articulate and perceptive post. You have a unique sense of expression and analysis that embraces philosophy, aesthetics and artistic criticism, but your rich flow of evocative words is also so lyrical and poetic. Sharing thoughts, feelings and ideas about Mao on this forum with everyone has been a rich and rewarding experience.

Hi, Wowmao.  I thought you would compose poems someday.  At last!
While reading your poem,  I could see Mao's performance in my heart little by litte.
There were many expressions that I didn't know.  So I checked the words with my dictionary.
I think your poem is breathtaking.
The images of your lines are picturesque and realistic.
May I quote some of your lines with Japanese?  Because I like the expressions.
I'd also like to ask U the meaning of the following words--pery and Speedy demons.

WowMao wrote:

The Prima ballerina stretches her wings high into the sky
プリマバレリーナは彼女の羽を空高く上げ

thawing the frozen pond on which she glides
彼女はスッと滑る、凍った池の水を溶かしながら

in the gentle wake of Springtime.
春（青春）のやさしい目覚めの中で

sweeping us away to a beautiful oasis,
美しいオアシスに私たちをつれていく

where the pure and powerful flow of her expressive soul
彼女の表現力のある精神の純粋で力強い流れ

that brought heart, purity, fight and light exquisite positions and lines
こころと、純粋な気持ちと、戦いと光り輝く絶妙なポジジョンとラインをもたらした

to a sport where it is rapidly vanishing.
はやい速度で失われていくスポーツに

and that wonderful wave-like flow in every motion
そしてそれぞれの動きにすばらしいさざ波のような流れがある
that moves the emotions like the moon does the ocean
大海に月がするように感情を動かす
are an ebb tide receding towards extinction.
消滅へと引いていく潮の流れ

Thank you for your hard work.  I really enjoyed your poem.
Lookin forward to reading next ones... 

Hello whiteboots 2013. I am so glad you liked the poem and yes you are right I worked very hard on it and used a lot of phrases from other poems and descriptions I had used for Mao. Again, I wouldn't have written it without looking at that article I mentioned. But, Mao is the true inspiration. She wrote every word with her inspirational skating. She is my all-time favorite. For me, Lu Chen and Midori Ito come closest. I know this post isn't a poem. I'll try to write one next time.

The words you didn't know are:
birds of prey- are like eagles or hawks with sharp blunt beaks that hunt and eat other animals.
The prey itself is the animals these birds eat.

Speedy demons is a play on words having two meanings:
1. Refers to the ISU scoring system's ridiculous focus on speed in deciding PCS scores. '
2. The utterly corrupt and rotten leader of the ISU- Speedy Cinquanta-who as a former speed skater has instituted a scoring system that has gone a long way to destroying the artistry and fairness in the sport with Mao being one of the greatest victims. For example, beginning in 2007 they started focusing on Mao's jumps with slo-mo replay to find urs and two footed landings wherever they could, even if they weren't visible to the naked eye, or were questionable or didn't exist, which they hardly ever did to Kim, who got ridiculously high GOEs on jumps and tied Mao on spirals and spins even though Kim's are obviously inferior, not to mention her PCS inflation because of the speed and cheesy, seductive smile and posing for the camera obsession.  This reached it's climax in the ridiculously low GOEs and PCS score at Sochi and in the Worlds LP 2014, where the corrupt tech crew completely contradicted the high GOE's given to Mao by the judges on her triple axel, and the 3F and 3L combo.  

Also, if the the value of the triple axel in 2007 had been the same as it is now, Mao would be a 4 time World Champion because she would have won Worlds in 2007 even with the -2 GOE she got for a beautiful triple axel in the LP, which the tech crew judged as a two footed landing, even though I have never been able to see it without slo mo, even after watching the performance many times. Sorry, I just get carried away when I start writing about all these injustices. No wonder Mao is so worn out!

I think that, despite Mao's overwhelming fame and success, this is why I love her skating so much because she is like a pure and beautiful martyr battling the injustice of the scoring system.    

I am really honored that you took the time to translate some of my phrases into Japanese. I wish that I could speak this beautiful language. I think Mao's voice is so warm, kind and soft when I hear her speak. Success never went to her head because she is such a pure and dedicated artist.

Thank you for your quick reply.  My problems to understand your poem have almost solved.  I appriciate your kind explantions about the unknown things for me...  Maybe I was lack of imaginations and information.  But now, I have learned from you.   Expressing some objects in details is precious.   Mao

Whiteboots2013 I just hit a vote button by mistake on one of your posts. I don't know if my vote is good or bad, but it seems to be positive. I just wanted to let you know. I am really impressed by your high level of English, since you live in Japan, don't you? If you want to, I would love if you could write the phrases you translated into English letters, like konishiwa for example, since unfortunately I can't read Japanese:

Also, I was wondering what people in Japan thought about the scoring for Mao at Sochi and Worlds because on the internet Japanese people seemed to be relatively quiet compared to Koreans, though the threads at Golden Skate and on youtube were full of high praise for Mao and hatred for the judges.  

The judges were more than just unjust
because Mao skated like the ballerina Russia
has long sought after with tragic grandeur,
performing to the greatest Russian composition of all time.
 
With dexterity and desperately elegant step sequences,
she resurrected the turbulence and hope of the Revolution.
Springing exquisitely into the air
with 8 triples, which with the triple axel
no Russian skater or ballerina would even dare to try.

Yet, the desecration of art and religion is the legacy
Lenin left behind. And with the poverty he brought
along came the proliferation of bribes that comrades used to survive
and officials used to line their plentiful pockets.
So to sway the Olympic committee his way
the former KGB chief made a greasy palm pay-off
to the IOC and ISU to push the golds for Russia on through.  
And that's probably the reason for the extra deductions in urs coming up this season.

Since Rochmaninoff was a member of the Russian bourgeoisie
the Bolsheviks forced him off his estate
and deprived him of his livelihood as he fled for Finland.
So in the modern day, Mao’s world record performance was downgraded
to raise up Russia’s skating proletariat.

Sorry for all the conflict and politics in this poem, but I think the corrupt environment
surrounding Mao’s Sochi LP performance makes it much more memorable and poignant.  
As one Russian commentator said, Mao's Sochi LP made her immortal.

Thaaanks for all the poems wowmao, they are amazing.

By the way does anyone know whether Kostner is continuing, no announcement of retirement from her makes me think that she is planning to continue?

and to your question wowmao I wish I also knew Japanese and could see what kind of reaction they had when they saw Mao's scores, I would also like to know what Mai thought if she has given her thoughts to the public. I know Oda openly showed his outrage at the scoring and Mao's scores in particular when he appeared on a Japanese show, there he kept repeating the calls Mao received were bogus.

Hello, Wowmao.  Sorry, I'm late.  I'm not sure my translation is correct.  But I try to do it in  alphabets.

WowMao wrote:

The Prima ballerina stretches her wings high into the sky
プリマバレリーナ　　は    彼女　　　　の   羽　　　を  　空 　　高く 　　広げ
(purimabarerina wa kanojyo    no  hane  wo  sora  takaku 　hiroge)

thawing the frozen pond on which she glides
凍った  池   の  水     を  溶かしながら      彼女      は   すーっと  滑る
(kootta ike no mizu wo tokashinagara kanojyo ha suuto     suberu)

in the gentle wake of Springtime.
やさしい    目覚め    の   中    で  /  春    （青春）     の
(yasashii mezame no naka de /  haru(seisyun) no

sweeping us away to a beautiful oasis,
美しい         オアシス  に 私たち           を   つれて  いく
(utsukushii oashisu ni watashitachi wo tsurete iku)

where the pure and powerful flow of her expressive soul
純粋         で   力強い          流れ /    彼女の       表現         して  いる  精神 の
(jyunnsui de chikarazuyoi nagare / kanojyono hyougen　shite iru seishinn no

that brought heart, purity, fight and light exquisite positions and lines
こころ     と、純粋      な   気持ち    と、立ち向い      光り輝く             絶妙な            ポジジョン と ライン を もたらした
(kokoro to, jyunsui na kimochi to, tachimukai hikarikagayaku zetsumyouna pojisyon to rain wo motarashita

to a sport where it is rapidly vanishing.
はやい  速度     で   失われていく        スポーツ  に
(hayai sokudo de ushinawareteiku supotsu ni)

and that wonderful wave-like flow in every motion
そして       それぞれ  の   動き   にすばらしい   さざ波       の ような   流れ
(shoshite sorezore no ugoki ni subarashii sazanami no youna nagare)

that moves the emotions like the moon does the ocean
大海原         に  月    が　そうする　よう　に　感情　　　を　　動かす
(oounabara ni tsuki ga sousuru you ni kanjyou wo ugokasu)

are an ebb tide receding towards extinction.
消滅           へ と  引いて   いく 潮    の  流れ
(syoumetsu e to hiite     iku shio no nagare)

I changed Japanese a little,  for word orders were different.  I hope you like.  

balelerinamao,  I don't know the things you asked in detail.  Probably, someone in this forum will answer it.

whiteboots2013 wrote:

Hello, Wowmao.  Sorry, I'm late.  I'm not sure my translation is correct.  But I try to do it in  alphabets.

WowMao wrote:

The Prima ballerina stretches her wings high into the sky
プリマバレリーナ　　は    彼女　　　　の   羽　　　を  　空 　　高く 　　広げ
(purimabarerina wa kanojyo    no  hane  wo  sora  takaku 　hiroge)

thawing the frozen pond on which she glides
凍った  池   の  水     を  溶かしながら      彼女      は   すーっと  滑る
(kootta ike no mizu wo tokashinagara kanojyo ha suuto     suberu)

in the gentle wake of Springtime.
やさしい    目覚め    の   中    で  /  春    （青春）     の
(yasashii mezame no naka de /  haru(seisyun) no

sweeping us away to a beautiful oasis,
美しい         オアシス  に 私たち           を   つれて  いく
(utsukushii oashisu ni watashitachi wo tsurete iku)

where the pure and powerful flow of her expressive soul
純粋         で   力強い          流れ /    彼女の       表現         して  いる  精神 の
(jyunnsui de chikarazuyoi nagare / kanojyono hyougen　shite iru seishinn no

that brought heart, purity, fight and light exquisite positions and lines
こころ     と、純粋      な   気持ち    と、立ち向い      光り輝く             絶妙な            ポジジョン と ライン を もたらした
(kokoro to, jyunsui na kimochi to, tachimukai hikarikagayaku zetsumyouna pojisyon to rain wo motarashita

to a sport where it is rapidly vanishing.
はやい  速度     で   失われていく        スポーツ  に
(hayai sokudo de ushinawareteiku supotsu ni)

and that wonderful wave-like flow in every motion
そして       それぞれ  の   動き   にすばらしい   さざ波       の ような   流れ
(shoshite sorezore no ugoki ni subarashii sazanami no youna nagare)

that moves the emotions like the moon does the ocean
大海原         に  月    が　そうする　よう　に　感情　　　を　　動かす
(oounabara ni tsuki ga sousuru you ni kanjyou wo ugokasu)

are an ebb tide receding towards extinction.
消滅           へ と  引いて   いく 潮    の  流れ
(syoumetsu e to hiite     iku shio no nagare)

I changed Japanese a little,  for word orders were different.  I hope you like.  

balelerinamao,  I don't know the things you asked in detail.  Probably, someone in this forum will answer it.

whiteboots

Thanks a lot for writing the translation in Latin letters! Again, it is really an honor for someone to spend so much time translating something I wrote, though again Mao is the real inspiration. I feel especially wonderful because I was able to make a cross-cultural connection with someone who speaks the language that Mao does. I wish the poem could be translated and sent to her, though I am sure she has too many things from fans to read already.

Note: This thread keeps jumping from the home page where it is fully visible to being under Mao chat where is harder to find. I wonder if it could be moved to the home page as a separate thread from post Sochi news. What do you think?  I really don't know how to arrange these things.

I love you

Your voice is so sweet
Like a spring breeze

I like each moment you speak
The way you speak is thoughtful
And also making us happy
Like “Half-half”

Once you read a poem on CM
Your low and calm voice
Is unforgettable

In the poem
You said
“I want to fall in love…”(koi wo shitai)
I love the sound of your voice
With your performance

Maybe the CM was Asience(Shanpoo)...You can see it on YOUTUBE.

Thank you, too, wowmao. 

Blue boots’ Nocturne

The absence of Mao Asada
Made a deep hole
In our mind
Always looked forward
And she has fought beautifully against difficulties
Then returned to her college life
While studying languages and enjoying herself
She will seek her new goals

I, as usual
Almost everyday
Check blogs about her
Watch her former programs
I used to wait for her new programs
Now there is no more such entertainment
Sometimes I watch other skaters
Though it is true that I am not as satisfied with them

In such everyday life
M plays Chopin’s nocturne
Till the Christmas concert
Only two months and a half
He almost memorizes it
Yesterday, he said to his piano teacher
“How about playing this part the original way?”

In M’s nocturne
There is no image of night
Instead of that
Full of light
Vividly
The image for flying forward in his future
Like Mao’s performance
May go forward, high into the sky

When M plays it
I should say
It may be a miracle
To be able to think about Mao’s facial expressions and performance
His piano teacher suggested
Make a story about this piece

M made the story
He saw Yuzuru Hanyu on the ice rink
Yuzuru became his coach
Little by little
He had been able to skate better
At last, he could skate with Yuzuru

Whenever I listen to M’s nocturne
I come to think it wonderful
For such a miracle to happen

*Blue boots=my son’ pen name
M=my son’s first letter of his first name

Congratulations!!

On your graduation day
Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in my heart
In hakama, you look more matured and gracious
Pretty in pink
Such a lovely smile
Under peaceful facial expressions
We can see your inner passion
Even though without saying anything about it

Please come back to the competitions!
Let us say “Congratulations!”
Again and again
I’d like to pray and say, “Mao, you can do it!”
More and more

Voices, gifts, and flowers like today’s cherry blossoms
Falling onto the ice
From the audience near the rink side
In front of the television screen
Uncountable people
Are waiting for you

Even I, can see the image
Beside the cherry trees’ avenue
With my seventeen-year-old daughter
I truly hope your coming back
As a competitor

As soon as possible・・・


It depends on
Your decision

Your idea about
coming-back to the competition
Changed my days

Just like Patrick Chan, your friend in Canada

After a year
You had missed competitions
Just like we had missed you

When you heard the song
“Toki no nagare ni mi wo makase” sung by Teresa Teng,
You were moved to hear the following lines

“I flow myself in cope with the stream of time…”
“Even though I have only one life,
it is okay to throw it away…”

At the bottom of my heart
I believed in you
Thinking about your spirit


Mao will be born again as a new expressionist
Through the various experiences
Also, Mao
It is you that must be looking forward to see
something in yourself

It is we that want to see you on the ice
A.S.A.P..

whiteboots2013, another amazing poem! I really like your work. Keep them coming.

Thank you for your sweet comments.  I'm pleased to read them..  
zarinaballerina

By the way, what does zarina mean?  Does the word have any meaning or just a part of the name?

whiteboots2013 wrote:

By the way, what does zarina mean?  Does the word have any meaning or just a part of the name?

As far as I know, Zarina doesn't have any meaning, however it's one of my favourite names.

Benedictus(平和への祈り)


Pray for the peace
It begins silently
And suddenly
A strong wind blows
As if she were a leaf
Turning on the ice

Soul
Spirit
Greek statues come alive
Expressing their pray
Being peaceful

Magic
Music
Motions
Everything is here
Everyone listens to
The sound of their pray

Three goddesses are born
On the ice
With kindness and strength
They show us their true reunion
And our rebirth
Being alive in this world

whiteboots2013, that is very lovely! <3

Thanks, roma!  

Good morning, Mao

I hope you wake up calmly in the morning

You tried hard yesterday
Everybody knows you could do it

Well, today is another day
Believe in yourself

The smell of toast
And a cup of coffee

You smile
In the morning air filled with brightness

And
Have a confidence
Because you can do it

We have a confidence
Because we know you can do it

I love this, whiteboots. Spot on! I wish Mao could read it.
Can't wait for the new poem. They're all so amazing.

Thanks for the poems, whiteboots! I wish I could actually write poems...

(I have 2 story ideas through, both of which have Mao in them...)

Thank you for your comments, zerina and l-spiralmao

Let's cheer Mao together!!
And share poems about Mao.

l-spiralmao, I'd like to read your stories...

Thank you whiteboots!

(I'm still planning the ideas...)