Selected Poems | Yuan Changming

Englese: A Sonnet in Found Chinglish Sayings

You really know English? Know is know, noknow is noknow.
Every student should good good study, day day up.
You have seed. I will give you some color to see see.
You and me, we two who and who?
They are no three no four people.
You ask me, me ask who?
It is always people mountain people see there.

If you want money, I have no; if you want life, I have one!
Doing things should not horse horse tiger tiger!
Dragon born dragon, chicken born chicken, mouse'son can make hole!
I give you face you don't wanna face, you lose your face, I turn my face
You should open the door see mountain.
He has one leg with somebody, and she also has one leg with somebody.
Please take care of pubic sanitation!

Same Wording: English Spelling vs Chinese Syntax

钱是没有问题 Money is having no problem
问题是没有钱 Problem is having no money
有钱是没问题 Having money is no problem
没有钱是问题 Having no money is problem
问题是钱没有 Problem is having no money
钱没有是问题 Having no money is problem

Yuan Changming grew up as a village boy, started to learn the English alphabet at age nineteen, and published monographs on translation before leaving China. Currently, Yuan edits Poetry Pacific with Allen Yuan in Vancouver. Credits include ten Pushcart nominations, eight chapbooks and poetry awards, as well as publications in Best of the Best Canadian Poetry (2008-17) and Best New Poems Online, among others across forty-six countries.