To Tell You “Mihumisang” —Discovering New Zealand, Find Joy in Reading the Pacific 跟你說一聲Mihumisang ——發現紐西蘭，樂讀太平洋
To Tell You “Mihumisang”[1]
—Discovering New Zealand, Find Joy in Reading the Pacific[2]
On this side of the mountain,
The postures of the Pacific are not seen,
Yet the winds it blows are felt in hands.
On this side of the mountain
The sound of pacific waves are not heard,
Yet the wavy mountain shapes are in sight.
A call of
“Kia ora.”[3]
I heard
On the other side of the ocean
The call of the whale rider.
I saw
On the other side of the ocean
The Star Waka delicate carved.[4]
I will paddle
Towards
“Aotearoa”
heading to
The Hill of Wool.[5]
To say
“Mihumisang”[6]
To the Fast Talking PI.[7]
Translated by Ying-Che Chen
[1] “Mihumisang” means “to breath well.” I was invited to participate the Taipei International Book Fair 2015, and read my poem at a poetry reading session on Feburary 13th.
[2] It is a reference to the Chinese theme of the Taipei International Book Fair 2015.
[3] Greeting for Maori.
[4] A poetry collection by visiting New Zealand poet, Robert Sullivan, titled Star Waka.
[5] A book title by visiting New Zealand Poet Jenny Bornholdt, The Hill of Wool.
[6] Greeting in Bunun, an aboriginal tribal language of Taiwan.
[7] A poetry collection by visiting New Zealand poet Selina Tusitala Marsh, Fast Talking PI.
「Mihumisang」是「請你好好活著、繼續呼吸」的意思。當布農族人家問起「Mihumisang」（你還活著啊！）是布農族最具敬意的問候，祝福對方「你還活著啊！請你好好繼續活著！」在道別時說「Mihumisang」，也有「一路走好，小心路上，健康平安」之意。
Note: “Mihumisang” means “Please live well, keep breathing.” When Bunun people greet you with “Mihumisang” (You are still alive!), it is the most respectable greeting to wish that “You are still Alive! Please keep being alive.” At the time of parting, saying “Mihumisang” also means “fare well, have a nice journey, and be healthy and safe.”
大家一聽到南島民族，所想到就是海洋文化，對海洋知識非常的熟稔及擁有高超的造船技術。當我們布農族是一高山的族群，雖然居住在臺灣島嶼上，卻對海是有距離的、陌生的。在我們的語彙中，原本沒有「海」這個名詞，只有小水池「ning-av」，後來看到海後，也稱海為「ning-av」。海洋的魚，我們全部都稱為「iskaan」，因為布農族人對於海的認識很少。
When people hears about Austronesians, they would think of the oceanic culture that they obtain the knowledge of the sea, and is highly skilled for making boats. My tribe, the Bunun is known to inhibit the high mountains though living on the island of Taiwan, however we are quite distant and unfamiliar to the sea. In our language, there is no word for “ocean,” only small pond we call “ning-av.” After my people see the ocean, they still call it “ning-av.” The fishes living in the ocean, we call all of them “iskaan” because the lack of knowledge for them.
跟你說一聲Mihumisang[1]——發現紐西蘭，樂讀太平洋
在山的這一邊
看不到太平洋的姿態
摸得到它吹來的風
在山的這一邊
聽不到太平洋的濤聲
看得到層巒的波浪
一聲
Kia ora[2]
我聽見
海的那一端
鯨騎士的呼喚
我看見
海的那一端
雕刻精美的 《Star waka》[3]
我將划著槳
划向那
棉棉白雲下的大地[4]
走向那
《羊毛山丘》[5]
跟《快嘴太平洋島民》[6]
說一聲
Mihumisang[7]
[1] 參與2015年台北國書展，並於2月13日參加當天詩歌現場表演
[2] 毛利語：「你好」的意思。
[3] 當天朗讀的詩人羅伯．蘇利文（Robert Sullivan）的書名，中文為《星舟》，waka為毛利語船之意。
[4] 此句為毛利語Aotearoa的中文意思，毛利人稱呼的一座島嶼。
[5] 當天朗讀的詩人珍妮．伯恩侯特（Jenny Bornholdt）的書名《The Hill of Wool》。
[6] 當天朗讀的詩人莎琳娜．圖希塔拉．馬許（Selina Tusitala Marsh）的書名《Fast Talking PI》。
[7] 布農語：你好的意思。
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