Associated Press announced recently that 2,975 people died in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria. At first, The New York Times web site placed a modest link beneath a flurry of headlines about a so called NAFTA deal, the passing of a statesman and the profile of an actor. Belatedly, it added an editorial. Most media relegated the official news of almost 3000 American deaths, one of the most lethal natural disasters in American history, to 8 point Helvetica hypertext. Here today, gone tomorrow.
What has happened to America that we so casually pass over the news of a death count on the scale of 9/11? What does it say about the bitter state of our country? At the core, what does it say about us that we dislike each other so much we don’t care about other human beings, wherever they are? Sometimes casualty numbers are so huge they become impersonal, and perhaps that is part of our failing, mine included.
Like the sea tide, America’s greatness fluctuates. We are at a low point now, when all the flotsam and jetsam and sharp pieces of glass and rubbish appear, and poisonous things emerge from beneath the rocks. I cry for those suffering the pain of economic hardship, or seeing their country morph into a global pariah or, as the late Senator McCain eloquently pointed out, the horrors of politicians playing tribal rivalries. Above all, I feel for the thousands of families of those affected in Puerto Rico. Imagine a little girl who lost her granny, or a sick woman whose ventilator gave out, or the daughter who personally saw these things happen. Think of those boys and girls who lost their best friends in the storm or its aftermath. These dark skinned Americans in Puerto Rico were abandoned and lost to savage winds, government incompetence, and indifference or contempt by many mainland kin and their leaders.
The lost ones. That’s what my father’s tribe, the Luo, call those who do not return to their homeland after going abroad. But one doesn’t need to go abroad to become lost. We are the lost ones: we live in America, or call ourselves Americans, but have forgotten America.
Unless, that is, we make an effort to repudiate those trying to divide us. If there is any silver lining in the cloud, it is perhaps this: Turn any compassion you feel for the lives lost into remembering that we rise and fall together, and organize and make change together. The beauty of our country, of any country, rises and falls on the strength of our union, and how we care for those without a voice.
In China, the lotus is venerated because it can grow in the most noxious soil. Like the lotus, poetry and music can transform what is ugly into something inspiring. Beethoven’s Appassionata[*]sonata was shaped by the Napoleonic wars as well as his experience of tinnitus. Expedition to the Western Suburbs was written after the young Tang poet Li Shangyin saw China’s devastation in the wake of the An Lushan rebellion.
September, 2018
Mark Obama Ndesandjo
Shenzhen
One Hundred Verses On The Expedition To The Western Suburbs行次西郊作一百韵
(Translation follows)
蛇年建午月， shé nián jiàn wǔ yuè，
我自梁还秦。 wǒ zì liáng hái;huán qín。
南下大散岭， nán xià dà sǎn lǐng，
北济渭之滨。 běi jǐ;jì wèi zhī bīn。
草木半舒坼， cǎo mù bàn shū chè，
不类冰雪晨。 bù lèi bīng xuě chén。
又若夏苦热， yòu ruò xià kǔ rè，
燋卷无芳津。 jiāo juǎn;juàn wú fāng jīn。
高田长檞枥， gāo tián cháng;zhǎng jiě lì，
下田长荆榛。 xià tián cháng;zhǎng jīng zhēn。
农具弃道旁， nóng jù qì dào páng，
饥牛死空墩。 jī niú sǐ kōng dūn。
依依过村落， yī yī guò cūn luò，
十室无一存。 shí shì wú yī cún。
存者皆面啼， cún zhě jiē miàn tí，
无衣可迎宾。 wú yì;yī kě yíng bīn。
始若畏人问， shǐ ruò wèi rén wèn，
及门还具陈。 jí mén hái;huán jù chén。
右辅田畴薄， yòu fǔ tián chóu bò;báo;bó，
斯民常苦贫。 sī mín cháng kǔ pín。
伊昔称乐土， yī xī chèn lè tǔ，
所赖牧伯仁。 suǒ lài mù bǎi rén。
官清若冰玉， guān qīng ruò bīng yù，
吏善如六亲。 lì shàn rú liù qīn。
生儿不远征， shēng er;ér bù yuǎn zhēng，
生女事四邻。 shēng nǚ shì sì lín。
浊酒盈瓦缶， zhuó jiǔ yíng wǎ fǒu，
烂谷堆荆囷。 làn gǔ duī jīng jūn。
健儿庇旁妇， jiàn ér bì páng fù，
衰翁舐童孙。 shuāi;cuī wēng shì tóng sūn。
况自贞观后， kuàng zì zhēn guān hòu，
命官多儒臣。 mìng guān duō rú chén。
例以贤牧伯， lì yǐ xián mù bǎi，
征入司陶钧。 zhēng rù sī táo jūn。
降及开元中， jiàng jí kāi yuán zhōng，
奸邪挠经纶。 jiān xié náo jīng lún。
晋公忌此事， jìn gōng jì cǐ shì，
多录边将勋。 duō lù biān jiāng;jiàng xūn。
因令猛毅辈， yīn lìng měng yì bèi，
杂牧升平民。 zá mù shēng píng mín。
中原遂多故， zhōng yuán suì duō gù，
除授非至尊。 chú shòu fēi zhì zūn。
或出幸臣辈， huò chū xìng chén bèi，
或由帝戚恩。 huò yóu dì qī ēn。
中原困屠解， zhōng yuán kùn tú jiě，
奴隶厌肥豚。 nú lì yàn féi tún。
皇子弃不乳， huáng zǐ qì bù rǔ，
椒房抱羌浑。 jiāo fáng bào qiāng hún。
重赐竭中国， zhòng;chóng cì jié zhōng guó，
强兵临北边。 qiáng;qiǎng bīng lín běi biān。
控弦二十万， kòng xián èr shí wàn，
长臂皆如猿。 cháng;zhǎng bì jiē rú yuán。
皇都三千里， huáng dōu;dū sān qiān lǐ，
来往同雕鸢。 lái wang;lái wǎng tóng;tòng diāo yuān。
五里一换马， wǔ lǐ yī huàn mǎ，
十里一开筵。 shí lǐ yī kāi yán。
指顾动白日， zhǐ gù dòng bái rì，
暖热回苍旻。 nuǎn rè huí cāng mín。
公卿辱嘲叱， gōng qīng rǔ zhāo;cháo chì，
唾弃如粪丸。 tuò qì rú fèn wán。
大朝会万方， dà cháo;zhāo huì;kuài wàn fāng，
天子正临轩。 tiān zǐ zhèng;zhēng lín xuān。
彩旂转初旭， cǎi qí zhuǎi chū xù，
玉座当祥烟。 yù zuò dāng;dàng xiáng yān。
金障既特设， jīn zhàng jì te she ,
珠帘亦高褰。 zhū lián yì gāo qiān。
捋须蹇不顾， luō xū jiǎn bù gù，
坐在御榻前。 zuò zài yù tà qián。
忤者死艰屦， wǔ zhě sǐ jiān jù，
附之升顶颠。 fù zhī shēng dǐng diān。
华侈矜递炫， huā;huá chǐ jīn dì xuàn，
豪俊相并吞。 háo jùn xiàng;xiāng bìng tūn。
因失生惠养， yīn shī shēng huì yǎng，
渐见征求频。 jiàn;jiān jiàn;xiàn zhēng qiú pín。
奚寇东北来， xī kòu dōng běi lái，
挥霍如天翻。 huī huò rú tiān fān。
是时正忘战， shì shí zhèng;zhēng wàng zhàn，
重兵多在边。 zhòng bīng duō zài biān。
列城绕长河， liè chéng rào cháng hé，
平明插旗幡。 píng míng chā qí fān。
但闻虏骑入， dàn wén lǔ qí rù，
不见汉兵屯。 bù jiàn hàn bīng tún;zhūn。
大妇抱儿哭， dà fù bào er;ér kū，
小妇攀车轓。 xiǎo fù pān chē fān。
生小太平年， shēng xiǎo tài píng nián，
不识夜闭门。 bù shí yè bì mén。
少壮尽点行， shào zhuàng jìn;jǐn diǎn xíng，
疲老守空村。 pí lǎo shǒu kōng cūn。
生分作死誓， shēng fen zuò sǐ shì，
挥泪连秋云。 huī lèi lián qiū yún。
廷臣例獐怯， tíng chén lì zhāng qiè，
诸将如羸奔。 zhū jiāng;jiàng rú léi bēn。
为贼扫上阳， wèi;wéi zéi sào;sǎo shàng yáng，
捉人送潼关。 zhuō rén sòng tóng guān。
玉辇望南斗， yù niǎn wàng nán dòu;dǒu，
未知何日旋。 wèi zhī hé rì xuán。
诚知开辟久， chéng zhī kāi pì jiǔ，
遘此云雷屯。 gòu cǐ yún léi tún;zhūn。
逆者问鼎大， nì zhě wèn dǐng dà，
存者要高官。 cún zhě yào;yāo gāo guān。
抢攘互间谍， qiāng rǎng hù jiàn dié，
孰辨枭与鸾？ shú biàn xiāo yǔ luán？
千马无返辔， qiān mǎ wú fǎn pèi，
万车无还辕。 wàn chē wú hái;huán yuán。
城空鸟雀死， chéng kōng niǎo qiāo sǐ，
人去豺狼喧。 rén qù chái láng xuān。
南资竭吴越， nán zī jié wú yuè，
西费失河源。 xī fèi shī hé yuán。
因令右藏库， yīn lìng yòu zàng;cáng kù，
摧毁惟空垣。 cuī huǐ wéi kōng yuán。
如人当一身， rú rén dāng;dàng yī shēn，
有左无右边。 yǒu zuǒ wú yòu biān。
筋体半痿痹， jīn tǐ bàn wěi bì，
肘腋生臊膻。 zhóu yè shēng sào;sāo shān。
列圣蒙此耻， liè shèng méng;mēng;měng cǐ chǐ，
含怀不能宣。 hán huái bù néng xuān。
谋臣拱手立， móu chén gǒng shǒu lì。
相戒无敢先。 xiàng;xiāng jiè wú gǎn xiān。
万国困杼轴， wàn guó kùn zhù zhóu，
内库无金钱。 nèi kù wú jīn qián。
健儿立霜雪， jiàn ér lì shuāng xuě，
腹歉衣裳单。 fù qiàn yī cháng dān;chán。
馈饷多过时， kuì xiǎng duō guò shí，
高估铜与铅。 gāo gū tóng yǔ qiān。
山东望河北， shān dōng wàng hé běi，
爨烟犹相联。 cuàn yān yóu xiàng;xiāng lián。
朝廷不暇给， cháo tíng bù xiá gěi，
辛苦无半年。 xīn kǔ wú bàn nián。
行人榷行资， xíng rén què xíng;háng;xìng zī，
居者税屋椽。 jū zhě shuì wū chuán。
中间遂作梗， zhōng jiān suì zuò gěng，
狼藉用戈鋋。 láng jí yòng gē chán。
临门送节制， lín mén sòng jié zhì，
以锡通天班。 yǐ yáng;xí tōng tiān bān。
破者以族灭， pò zhě yǐ zú miè，
存者尚迁延。 cún zhě shàng qiān yán。
礼数异君父， lǐ shù yì jūn fù，
羁縻如羌零。 jī mí rú qiāng líng。
直求输赤诚， zhí qiú shū chì chéng，
所望大体全。 suǒ wàng dà tǐ quán。
巍巍政事堂， wēi wēi zhèng shì táng，
宰相厌八珍。 zǎi xiàng yàn bā zhēn。
敢问下执事， gǎn wèn xià zhí shì，
今谁掌其权？ jīn shuí zhǎng qí quán？
疮疽几十载， chuāng jū jǐ;jī shí zài，
不敢抉其根。 bù gǎn jué qí gēn。
国蹙赋更重， guó cù fù gèng;gēng zhòng;chóng，
人稀役弥繁。 rén xī yì mí fán。
近年牛医儿， jìn nián niú yī er;ér，
城社更攀缘。 chéng shè gèng;gēng pān yuán。
盲目把大旆， máng mù bǎ dà pèi，
处此京西藩。 chù;chǔ cǐ jīng xī fān。
乐祸忘怨敌， lè;yuè huò wàng yuàn dí，
树党多狂狷。 shù dǎng duō kuáng juàn。
生为人所惮， shēng wéi rén suǒ dàn，
死非人所怜。 sǐ fēi rén suǒ lián。
快刀断其头， kuài dāo duàn qí tóu，
列若猪牛悬。 liè ruò zhū niú xuán。
凤翔三百里， fèng xiáng sān bǎi lǐ，
兵马如黄巾。 bīng mǎ rú huáng jīn。
夜半军牒来， yè bàn jūn dié lái，
屯兵万五千。 tún bīng wàn wǔ qiān。
乡里骇供亿， xiāng lǐ hài gòng;gōng yì，
老少相扳牵。 lǎo shào xiàng;xiāng bān qiān。
儿孙生未孩， ér sūn shēng wèi hái，
弃之无惨颜。 qì zhī wú cǎn yán。
不复议所适， bù fù yì suǒ shì，
但欲死山间。 dàn yù sǐ shān jiān;jiàn;xiàn。
尔来又三岁， ěr lái yòu sān suì，
甘泽不及春。 gān zé bù jí chūn。
盗贼亭午起， dào zéi tíng wǔ qǐ，
问谁多穷民。 wèn shuí duō qióng mín。
节使杀亭吏， jié shǐ shā tíng lì，
捕之恐无因。 bǔ zhī kǒng wú yīn。
咫尺不相见， zhǐ chǐ;chě bù xiāng jiàn，
旱久多黄尘。 hàn jiǔ duō huáng chén。
官健腰佩弓， guān jiàn yāo pèi gōng，
自言为官巡。 zì yán wèi;wéi guān xún。
常恐值荒迥， cháng kǒng zhí huāng jiǒng，
此辈还射人。 cǐ bèi hái;huán shè rén。
愧客问本末， kuì kè wèn běn mò，
愿客无因循。 yuàn kè wú yīn xún。
郿坞抵陈仓， méi wù dǐ chén cāng，
此地忌黄昏。 cǐ dì jì huáng hūn。
我听此言罢， wǒ tīng cǐ yán bà;ba，
冤愤如相焚。 yuān fèn rú xiàng;xiāng fén。
昔闻举一会， xī wén jǔ yī huì;kuài，
群盗为之奔。 qún dào wèi;wéi zhī bēn。
又闻理与乱， yòu wén lǐ yǔ luàn，
系人不系天。 xì;jì rén bù xì;jì tiān。
我愿为此事， wǒ yuàn wèi cǐ shì，
君前剖心肝。 jūn qián pōu xīn gān。
叩头出鲜血， kòu tóu chū xiān xuè，
滂沱污紫宸。 pāng tuó wū zǐ chén。
九重黯已隔， jiǔ zhòng;chóng àn yǐ gé，
涕泗空沾唇。 tì sì kōng zhān chún。
使典作尚书， shǐ diǎn zuò shàng shū，
厮养为将军。 sī yǎng wèi;wéi jiāng jūn。
慎勿道此言， shèn wù dào cǐ yán，
此言未忍闻！ cǐ yán wèi rěn wén！
In the 12th month of the winter of the year Dingsi[1]
I travelled back through the Western suburbs from Liang County
From the south I descended to Dasan Pass
Northwards crossing the banks of the River Wei
The brush and trees were partly growing
It was not a typical ice-covered frosty winter morning
It seemed oppressive as during the height of summer
Withered, scorched they lay, surrounded by arid patches
Here, tall Mongolian oaks on high lands grow
Brambles and thorns on the fields below
Farming tools lay abandoned by the road
The carcasses of starved cattle lay in heaps
Into a shuttered village we despondently arrived,
Where out of every ten houses not a single family had survived
Behind us we heard the sound of weeping
The villagers had no clothes to welcome guests
When we asked what had happened
First scared, they then proceeded to explain
The farmland in Youchou is bare
The people are bitterly poor
The Land of Happiness was once its name
But relied on good governance all the same
The leadership of the officials was clear as ice or jade
The Clerks’ kindness made them like family in every way
Boys grew up close to home
Girls married neighbors they had known
The clay Fou were filled with rough rice wine
In the round valleys, rice for the granaries piled high
Robust young men courted women from abroad[2]
Old men doted on their grandkids like cows licking calves
As for our condition after the Year of Zhenguan
Officials were civilians appointed to follow Confucian ways
As a rule, the senior officials managed their districts as they should
The prime minister allocated posts for the people’s good
Near the middle of the Years of Emperor Xuanzong[3]
A crafty chancellor turned our lives into chaos
The Duke of Jin was jealous of the state of affairs
Officials often received commendations he did not share
He sought out vicious and cruel frontier commanders
And mayhem ruled over the docile people
Zhongyuan had many incidents of pillage and rape
Officials received appointments that were unsanctioned and fake
Some were for favored officials
Some were on account of the King’s relatives
The people of Zhongyuan were sacrificed and killed
Masters and slaves, like fat pigs, took their greasy fill
The emperor’s son was framed and forced to commit suicide
The pepper rooms embraced those of Qiang and Hun[4]
Generous grants exhausted the riches of the land
While the Northern Passes were controlled by his bands
Archers were two hundred thousand strong
Their physiques were all vigorous as apes
The capital was three thousand Li[5] away from his base
Like kites and eagles they moved back and forth with a rapid pace
Horses would be changed every five Li
Every ten one would pull out the mats and have a feast
Where his eyes pointed, legs would shake the ground that day
For whatever mood he felt, heaven and earth would pay
The high court officials were ridiculed and rebuked
Or spit aside like balls of shit
The court convened all the high officials of the land
The emperor placed his seat square before and above, grand,
The flags fluttered brilliantly towards the first light of dawn
Across from the emperor clouds of smoke arose and curled
A golden pheasant screen had been enlisted
Before the couch, pearl curtains were lifted
Unconcerned, he[6] stroked his beard
Even as the emperor sat before him
Those who offended him would lie dead beneath his feet
Those who were close were raised to the highest ranks
His extravagance and arrogance grew and grew
To amass great power was his skill, his tool
Because he was mistakenly granted favors
His extortion and blackmail grew
From the North East arrived the rebel army
And as quickly all below heaven was turned topsy turvy
At that time many had forgotten about the possibility of war
And many soldiers were guarding the North west
By the city walls and around the Yellow river the bandits stream
By late morning , from every point, his banners could be seen
On hearing the news that the tiger had ridden in
The people do not see their Han protectors
Women clutch their babies, crying
Other girls clamber onto the carts, mud flying.
From youth they had known years of peace and tranquility
They did not know gates should be shut at night.
The young and strong were quickly conscripted
The elderly, left to defend empty villages, were exhausted.
The departing swore oaths to the death
Tears wiped away seemed to link the autumn clouds
Officials were as startled as river deer
Various generals fled like skinny lambs in fear
Surrendering officials cleaned up Shangyang Palace to receive the Bandit[7]
Rebels forced able bodied men into arms to defend Tong Pass.
We looked towards the Southern Dipper, our thoughts of he in the Jade Carriage
Not knowing what day he would suppress the rebellion, or return with his entourage.
Everyone knew this was like the beginning of heaven and earth
The calamity was like the lightning of the First Chaos!
The disloyal sought the power of the Great Ding
Those, to loyal high Court Officials, demands they bring.
The soil was pillaged as each connived against the other
Who could tell apart the owl from the Luan?
One thousand horses would leave their bridles behind
Ten thousand battle chariots have no axles, we find.
In the empty cities, sparrows and mice jostle to live
In the clamor, people fled the wolves and jackals.
Southern wealth was used up in the lands of Wu and Yue
The loss of the River’s source was the price paid in the Western plains
Therefore the Imperial public Treasury of the right
Quickly fell to ruins, leaving behind barren walls
It was as though someone’s body was not fully turned in
As though there was only the left, and the right was gone.
So like bodies with half the muscles numb and paralyzed,
Armpits and elbows stank like rotting meat
Future kings would face deception and humiliation
They could not say what was in their hearts[8]
The plotting nobles folded their arms tight
While others lacked the courage to speak out as they might
Looms all over the land lacked cloth
The treasuries were empty of gold.
The soldiers stood in the frost and snow
While thin garments covered their starving bellies cold.
Soldier’s pay and provisions were things of the past
Prices soared and copper coins became lead.
Looking east from Hua Mountain towards the northern Yellow river
The smoke of cooking fires seemed linked forever.
The court was too distracted to supply the border garrisons
The peasants barely had enough food for half a year.
For their goods, Merchants were levied taxes quite dear
While households were taxed room by room.
From Central China the rebel governors sowed discord,
In a series of incidents, pikes and staffs led to swords
Proofs of official posts were tossed over the walls
In order to break the rules and confer the best jobs
The families of those disloyal were slaughtered en masse
Those who remained played for time until things came to a pass
Many rituals were altered by ‘father’ nobles
To control vassal states like the Qiang and Lian
Was this simply the loss of Red Town[9]
So as to save the whole mess?
In the lofty hall, high officials did not work
The chancellor scoffed at his eight dishes
May I humbly ask this official of our land,
Today, power lies in who’s hands?
Scores of ulcers and sores have befallen the country
No one has the courage to root out the source of trouble
A shrinking nation confers us with ever greater taxes
People have less work and more bitter is each day that passes
In recent years, that son of the Cow doctor[10]
started to clamber up with the court foxes and rats
Great banners were hoisted up for this blind thief
As if the capital was his Fengxian county fief
He forgot that grief follows joy, old grudges and enemies too
His clique was arrogant and impetuous
When alive, others feted him
Dead, no one sympathized
Quickly his head was chopped off
And above the walls, like a piece of lamb or pork, hung aloft
Fenxiang was three hundred Li away from the capital
The Chu horses and troops ravaged the land with murderous evil
The orders to the troops came at the midnight hour
And 15,000 soldiers gathered in a show of power
In terrified villages, fearing their intentions
The old and very young fled in every direction
Sons and grandsons learned not to laugh
The faces of the abandoned were numbed to pain
No longer did they plan to leave again
They were resigned to death within the mountain
Three years later, that spring there was no sweet rain
Robbers and thieves started to pillage at high noon.
Many were poor themselves: Ask anyone, I assume
The Imperial censor executed the governor
Bandits were seized but no one dared to ask from where they came
No one saw each other, although they were side by side
As yellow dust multiplied on land that had long been dry
The stationed soldiers hung their bows on their waist pendants
Now they themselves were officials on inspections
Often afraid of being attacked in the worst places
These young men would target the people…
I am so sorry I cannot explain more
All I wish from my guest is don’t stay too long, let me show you the door
Meiwu is situated below Chencang
This road can be quickly crossed before sunset
I listened to these words and my resentment burned inside
There was a time when the arrival of Official Hui would cause the bandits to flee on every side
I’ve heard that in times of crises and chaos
Relationships between men count, rather than rely on heaven
It is because of these incidents
That before the Emperor I honestly vent my spleen
Even were I to kowtow until I bleed
And filthy stains fill the Purple Palace, Indeed
The 9th Empyrean realm of Chu Gate has been cut off from me
In vain do tears fall and moisten my empty lips.
Petty officials at once change into high courtiers
Slaves and footmen transform into generals
Let these words not be repeated for goodness sake
If I hear them again my heart will break!
[*] Beethoven’s Appassionata sonata (Performed by Mark O. Ndesandjo)
[1] Year of the Snake 837-838AD
[2] Women from abroad were considered prostitutes or concubines for easy pleasures, and marriage was to local women
[3] The Tang Emperor who was responsible for the An Lushan rebellion, a climactic and decisive event that weakened the Tang Empire.
[4] Minority tribes or barbarian tribes
[5] Unit of distance equal to 0.31 miles
[6] The barbarian general An Lushan, who had gained the emperor’s favor
[7] In the city of Luo Yang, where An Lushan established his rebel headquarters
[8] Towards the end of the Tang empire, emperors were not as powerful as before, and were manipulated by the eunuchs and provincial governors.
[9] A region in Inner Mongolia
[10] Official Cheng Chu, formerly a doctor, plotted with the emperor to kill the eunuchs, and failed in the ‘Sweet Dew’ incident.
A Tang Poet From Nairobi 
“The Lost Ones” what am amazing phrase…seems to fit with a phrase I heard the other day, “Unseeded.”
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Thanks for your comment Brenda. At times, the phrase can be a badge of honor.
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