For My Motherland

My motherland is a giant tree of the EastOn her yellow earth, one gold river after the nextceaselessly flowsMy motherland’s pure blueis the color of the sky and seaIt’s a bird with golden raindrops on its wingsjust now passing through daybreak

My motherland grew up in mythsHer bronze leaveshave murmured ceaselesslyMy motherland has never belonged to only one ethnic peoplebecause she has fifty-six daughters and sons,and my own People, one of those fifty-six,forever belong here

My motherland’s historyshouldn’t be broken into fragmentsregardless of whether she bearsradiant or shameful yearsbecause her history is completeWhen we praise the Tang Dynastyhow can we forget the territory established in the YuanWhen we dream back to the lyrics created in the Song Dynastyand find the strength of the writing therehow can we overlookthe exploits and extraordinary tolerance of the great Qing DynastyI say my motherland’s history is a complete historybecause I view all of these as inseparable partsof the flesh and blood of my country

My motherland, I want to say to youthat if one day you must choose among usyou won’t have a simple choicebecause regional aspects and different backgroundsaren’t just due to our ethnicityBy the same token, don’t make us miss out on equalopportunities to compete merely because of our ethnic differencesMy motherland, I hope that in the endour loyaltywill be exchangedfor your complete belief in us

My motherland,your elegant chorus has already been verifiedas the sum of fifty-six People’s languagesIts magnificent harmonies would be imperfectif any one singer were to leaveJust like the voice of my PeoplePerhaps it comes from a distant borderbut its existenceis always necessaryjust like our ancient Nuosu scriptWithout a doubteverything it records has becomea proud immortal chapterin your monumental literature

My motherland, please forgivemy boldness and the honesty only poets haveI hope that you will see in usthe noble character one should have as a person—outstanding abilities, truly forsaking selfishness and  narrow-mindedness,and that incomparably sacrificial spirit of accumulated individual  lives that canmost valuably serve the people of this countryMy motherland, I’m filled with hope and eager anticipationthat what you value in us will doubtless beour loyalty towards you, just asevery drop of blood in our veinscomes from a beating heartand no other source