Xidu Heshang
JAILBIRDS AND HEROES
that year our teacher loved chi zhiqiang
actor who went to jail for loose behaviour
we had a contest for prison songs
my “tears on prison bars” earned me first prize:
black “hero” fountain pen
2014-09-08
Tr. MW, Oct. 2014
Yi Sha
SONG FROM NEXT DOOR
next door to my studio
a tibetan poet from india
when he was ten
he fled with his parents
writes in english and in tibetan
does not speak chinese
everyday he brings a guitar
actually it’s his own three-stringed instrument
when inspired
he breaks out in song
music goes through the walls
I don’t feel
he is disturbing me
I often prick up my ears
oh, it comes again
he is singing
I feel like I am going to cry
he sings in tibetan
but it is the tune
“nothing is more red then the sun,
no-one is closer than chairman mao…”
Tr. MW Oct. 2014
伊沙
《隔壁的歌声》
我工作室隔壁
是一位印籍藏裔诗人
在他十岁那年
随爹妈逃到印度
用藏、英双语写作
不通汉语
他每天怀抱一把
六弦琴来到工作室
兴之所至
便弹唱起来
歌声穿墙而过
我不觉得
打扰了我
常常侧耳谛听
哦，此时此刻
他又唱起来了
听得我差点泪奔
他唱的是藏文版
《太阳最红，毛主席最亲》
BLUMEN
die blumen auf meinem tisch sind für dich
die blumen auf meinem tisch sind für dich
sie sind für meine oma
für meine frau
für meine mutter
für meine tochter
für jede frau die blumen mag
die blätter wiegen sich auf den bäumen
die blätter werden noch einmal rot
die blätter treiben den fluss hinunter
die blätter kommen
auf dem dachfirst sitzen die tauben
am strand in der früh
glänzen die steine wie karamell
der fluss ist klar
gestern hab ich gebadet
es gibt reiher und enten und andere vögel
wildgänse ziehen
hoch oben nach westen
im wald ist ein wasserfall
und dann noch einer den bach hinauf
wo wir wohnen ist eine schule
volkschule hauptschule und noch ein college
man sieht hoch übers tal
in einem geschäft bald nach der tankstelle
gibt es eine küche für frisches essen
dort hängt eine uhr
die geht nach links
die ziffern verkehrt
die hängt schon lange
die leute wissen nicht wo sie herkommt
die blumen auf meinem tisch sind für dich
MW October 2014
FLOWERS
the flowers on my desk are for you
the flowers on my desk are for you
they are for my granny
for my wife
for my mother
any woman who likes them
the leaves are rocking up in the trees
they get red one more time
they float down the river
the leaves are coming
the pigeons are on top of the roof
in the morning
caramel rocks wet on the beach
the water is clear
yesterday I went in again
herons, kingfishers, ducks, other birds
wild geese migrate
high up in formation
why are they going west
not straight south?
in the woods there is a waterfall
up the brook there’s another
where we stay there’s a school
elementary, high school, state college
from the college up on the hill
you see the whole valley
in a store after the gas station
you can get breakfast, fried stuff and such
at the counter they have a clock
clock goes the left way
numbers all backwards
people there say they don’t know where it came
the flowers on my desk are for you
MW October 2014
IN BETWEEN
to be in between
is the best thing in life
on a plane in the fog
still on the runway
the sun coming up
MW Sept. 28, 2014
BUSINESS TRIP
at the door
she kissed me
put her tongue on mine
to remind us
of unfinished business
MW Sept. 28, 2014
DAZWISCHEN
dazwischen sein
ist das schönste im leben
im flugzeug im nebel
noch auf der rollbahn
die sonne geht auf
man sieht ihn
den schneeberg
MW 28. Sept. 2014
LOST OBJECT
grave loose!
grave loose!
grave loss?
grave loss?
grave loose!
grave loose!
grave lost?
grave lost?
grave loose!
grave loose!
loose gravel?
loose gravel?
street through!
street through!
through street?
through street?
street through grave loose!
street through grave loose!
street through grave loss?
street through grave lost?
street through grave loose!
street through grave loose!
street through lost grave?
street through loose grave?
street lost
MW Oct. 2014
Yi Sha
ONE YEAR
at vermont studio center
in front of maverick writing studio
I ask joann
the female writer from chicago:
“I heard the longest residence here
is twelve months.
have you met any writer or painter
who stayed that long?”
“yeah, I’ve seen one”, says joann
stretching both arms in front of her
hopping forward
Tr. MW, Oct. 2014
伊沙
《一年》
在佛蒙特创作中心
马夫瑞克工作楼前
我问芝加哥女作家
朱安女士：
“此处最长的驻站
是12个月
你见过在这里
呆了一年的
作家或画家吗？”
“见过”朱安说
然后伸出双臂
向前平举
朝前蹦去
Yi Sha
IN AMERICA, THINKING OF ZHONG PIN
at vermont studio center
in front of maverick writing studio
a squirrel
shoots up a big maple tree
I think of you
I want to prove
to the world
in our time
there is still one person
who was unhappy
‘cause he did not become a poet
he could not find peace
that person was you
how does that sound
like a winter’s tale
but here in our world
there are no fairy tales
in fact you told me
25 years ago
“I am a hedonist
and would not be content
to become a poor poet …”
so I have to say
you did what you wanted
you followed the masses
went like all the people
so I relax
and the squirrel
jumps from the tall maple tree
to look at me
in his little eyes
I see only joy
no fear at all
it must be you
your soul is in heaven
Tr. MW, Oct. 2014
Shang Feipeng
VIOLIN VS CELLO
moon festival poetry recital
approaching
liaison tells me:
“when you bring your violin
maybe you could play a more joyful tune?
every time you play for us
you make us so sad.
it’s like you’re pulling those strings on a cello.”
I didn’t reply
I was thinking
my violin is an urn
my cello would be a coffin
(made up on mid-autumn moon festival day 2014 at the Xi’an Chang’an Poetry Festival recital)
Tr. MW, Oct. 2014
Ai Hao
WAITING IN LINE
at the hospital waiting in line
to pay for registration
suddenly he tells me
he wants to go to the bathroom
I let him stand in line
while I go to ask at the counter
then I come back to tell him
go to the second floor, take a left then go straight
it is on the right side
when you keep to the right you can see it
after a while he comes back
all confused.
“I couldn’t find it,
you know I can’t read
everywhere they’re waiting in line
and I didn’t smell
anything like a toilet!”
Tr. MW, Oct. 2014
Jiang Tao
MESSI BRINGT GLÜCK
messi
im argentinischen nationaldress
steht
am rand des dorfes zumglück
ein junger mann mit der nr. 10
des argentinischen nationalteams
kickt
kickt keinen weltmeisterschaftsball
kickt ein pedal
eines motorrads
wartet auf fahrgäste
2014-07-19
Übersetzt von MW im Oktober 2014
Jiang Tao
LUCKY MESSI
Messi
in the official Argentine colors
standing
at the entrance to Lucky Town
he is number 10
this young man
in the Argentine team dress
kicking
no official world-cup ball
kicking
a motorcycle pedal
waiting for passengers
2014-07-19
Tr. MW, Oct. 2014
gihon is one of the waters of paradise
under our windows in johnson town.
how long did adam and eve have their residence?
maybe four weeks. not even that.
then they were driven to the next airport.
it was the snake. it was the tree.
it was the apple. it was the gas station
stocked with the cider. the chinese restaurant.
actually god is a jolly old fellow
tells everyone how they founded the place.
god has the breadth. god has the width of it.
maybe the masons one hundred years ago
building their temple, leaving their clocks –
there is that clock down in the grocery store
clock that goes leftwards, numbers all turned –
maybe the masons were like the hippies.
anyway if you are in paradise
most of the time it is just life.
you tell your wife you are in paradise.
you tell your husband, you tell the kids.
they will say nice, hope you are coming back.
then you are gone. maybe you come again.
I’m sure the river stays for a while.
MW October 2014
Yi Sha
SMALL TOWN HORROR
“when I see such a town
here in america
I have this feeling
of lurking horror
maybe from the movies
guess I’ve seen too many”
I say to martin
my translator from austria
“I know what you mean”,
martin says,
somewhat to my surprise
“in austria, are there many small towns
such as this?”
“yes, very many”
“when you see those towns
do you have a feeling
of lurking horror?”
“yes”
“why? it is your native country,
you must know it quite well …”
“there could be nazis”
Tr. MW, Oct. 2014
伊沙
《异国小镇》
“看见这种小镇
我总有一种
恐怖的感觉
也许是
美国电影
看多了……”
我对维马丁说
他回答：
（没想到）
“我也是”
“奥地利有没有
这样的小镇？”
“有啊，很多”
“你看见它们
会不会有这种
恐怖的感觉？”
“会有”
“为什么？
那可是你的祖国啊
是你再熟悉不过的地方……”
“因为里面
会住有新纳粹”
CROSSING THE YELLOW RIVER
The train was passing the Yellow River
I was in the toilet
I knew that pissing wasn’t the right thing
I should have sat at my window
or stood at a door
left hand on my hip
right hand at my brows
gazing out like a Great Man
at least like a poet
having thoughts on the river
on old debts of history
everyone was gazing out
I was in the toilet
taking my time
finally I had time for myself
I had waited one day and one night
in the time it took for my business
the Yellow River had flown far away
1988
Tr. MW, Oct. 2014
伊沙
车过黄河
列车经过黄河
我正在厕所小便
我深知这不该
我 应该坐在窗前
或站在车门旁边
左手叉腰
右手作眉檐
眺望 象个伟人
至少象个诗人
想点河上的事情
或历史的陈帐
那时人们都在眺望
我在厕所里
时间很长
现在这时间属于我
我等了一天一夜
只一泡尿功夫
黄河已经流远
Here is a link to our reading at Vermont Studio Center on SoundCloud. 伊沙、维马丁在美国佛蒙特创作中心朗诵的录音
JEWISH QUARTER ON A SUNDAY
BRNO: PETER AND PAUL CATHEDRAL
晚报！ 晚报！早有早报，晚有晚报。不是不报，时间未到！
CHAIRMAN, THERE IS NOTHING TO DESCRIBE, THERE IS NOTHING, THE WORLD, ANNABELLE ……
the organ and the choir begin
the people on the house are dead
the people at the bank are dead
the people at the post are dead
the houses in the town are old
the alleys and the streets are old
the organ and the choir begin
the children from the town are dead
the old ones from the town are dead
the women from the town are dead
the menfolk from the town are dead
the organ and the choir begin
the angels in the church are dead
the figures in the light are dead
the figures in the dark are dead
the alleys and the streets are old
the houses in the town are old
the organ and the choir begin
MW in Prague, Oct. 2011
《礼拜天的犹太区》
风琴和唱诗班开唱
房子上的人死了
银行里的人死了
邮局里的人死了
城里的房子旧了
大街和小巷旧了
风琴和唱诗班开唱
镇上来的孩子死了
镇上来的老人死了
镇上来的女人死了
镇上来的男人死了
风琴和唱诗班开唱
教堂里的天使死了
光明中的使者死了
黑暗中的雕像死了
大街和小巷旧了
城里的房子旧了
风琴和唱诗班开唱
2011.10.布拉格
（伊沙 译）
Yi Sha
HAVING MY VISA REFUSED AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY
all morning till noon
one hundred people in a small room
like smuggled in a container
among boring figures and faces
a beautiful girl studying ballet
brings us all to attention
before my meeting with the official
I have a bit of bad feeling
among the people who get a visa
not one man under 50
only two men
an old guy with his wife
and one so small he doesn’t reach to the counter
America’s scared
they are really afraid
must be scared of our men!
holy shit! visa-official with a big beard
looks like a muslim, much more than me
much more like a terrorist
he doesn’t deliberate
he’s very sure he’s refusing my visa
must have seen something in my eyes
we say big apes cherish each other
he saw some deep hidden blood lust
an intention to immigrate
he’s reading the signs
the great li taibo from the tang dynasty moving to persia
no fucking international jokes please
holding my head up while taking my leave
I see the ballet girl was also refused
at another counter by a black woman
but she’s one happy duckling
flying outside with a song on her lips
“her parents were forcing her to go to america …”
someone from the crowd knows how it is
2004
Tr. MW, Oct. 2014
伊沙
《在美国使馆遭拒签》
整个上午
一百个人挤在一个不大的厅里
像挤在一条偷渡船的仓底
在等待签证的百无聊赖中
一个学芭蕾的美少女
成为全场的最大姣点
在与签证官见面之前
我已经有点底虚了
我怎么瞧着被签的人中
几乎没有青壮年的男人
有那么两个
一个是带着老伴的老头
一个是个头够不到窗口的侏儒
美国怕了
真的怕了
他们现在怕男人
哇靠！大胡子的签证官
其实比我长得
更接近于穆斯林
也更像个恐怖分子
他未加丝毫考虑
坚定不移地拒签我
难道是猩猩惜猩猩
他一眼便瞧出了我眼中
深藏不露的杀气
移民之嫌
有此迹象乎
大唐李白想要移民波斯
你他妈甭跟老子开国际玩笑了
在我扬长而去之时
那个学芭蕾的美少女
也被另一窗口的黑女人拒签
她真是快乐得像只欲飞的小鸭子
欢叫着离开此地
“一准儿是她父母逼着她去美国……”
队伍里有人做出了正确的判断
（2004）
YI SHA: SUNDAY OCT. 5TH 2014 VERMONT STUDIO CENTER LECTURE HALL READING
9/11 REPORT FROM THE COUCH
CHINA DOWN AT THE BOTTOM
SEX EDUCATION
HAVING MY VISA REFUSED AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY
(ENTERING AMERICA, DREAM #442, ONE DAY CROSSING THE SQUARE, GOING HOME FOR LUNAR NEW YEAR, THE PEOPLE ….)
Yi Sha
9/11 REPORT FROM THE COUCH
Ist second: mouth barn-door open
2nd second: wooden-chicken stiff
3rd second: couldn’t believe it
4th second: it must be true
5th second: what a great fire
6th second: well they deserve it
7th second: this is retribution
8th second: these buggers have guts
9th second: must be their religion
10th second: before I realize
my own little sister
lives in new york
I need a telephone
long distance call!
can’t get a connection!
I go storming for a computer
where is the internet
typing out characters
writing an email
shaky fingers
“sister, sister!
are you alive?
your elder brother is worried sick!”
2001
Tr. MW, Oct. 2014
伊沙
《9.11心理报告》
第1秒钟目瞪口呆
第2秒钟呆若木鸡
第3秒钟将信将疑
第4秒钟确信无疑
第5秒钟隔岸观火
第6秒钟幸灾乐祸
第7秒钟口称复仇
第8秒钟崇拜歹徒
第9秒钟感叹信仰
第10秒钟猛然记起
我的胞妹
就住在纽约
急拨电话
要国际长途
未通
扑向电脑
上网
发伊妹儿
敲字
手指发抖
“妹子，妹子
你还活着吗？
老哥快要急死了！”
（2001）
Here is a link to our reading at Vermont Studio Center on SoundCloud. 伊沙、维马丁在美国佛蒙特创作中心朗诵的录音
Yang Jian
EMPTY GRAVES
there are many empty graves in my country,
in empty graves nothing is there,
only earth and more earth.
you are afraid of ghosts,
you fear the ghosts are going to stir.
in our hearts we have buried those empty graves.
in autumn you cover your grave with weeds,
and when it breaks out,
you hide it right where its shows its first page.
in my country,
if the grass has a sound, it’s the sound of the wanderer,
it’s just the sunset sound in the desert.
my country is full of empty graves,
in empty graves nothing is there,
only weeds and more weeds.
2012
Tr. MW, August 2014
Yi Sha
DIE ALLERWICHTIGSTEN TAGE IM JAHR
jedes jahr im sommer
fahren frau und sohn
zu verwandten nach henan
ich bin endlich allein
für ein paar tage
ein paar porno-dvds
ein paar neue gedichte
in plötzlich groß gewordenen zimmern
ein paar gedanken
über ganz viel im leben
August 2014
Übers. v. MW, 2015
Yi Sha
MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF THE YEAR
summer holidays
my wife and my son
both gone to henan
to visit relatives
I’m all alone
to spend a few days
watching porn dvds
writing new poems
in this big empty flat
I have time to think
about my whole life
August 2014
Tr. MW, August 2014
《一年中重要的几日》
每年暑假
妻儿都要
返豫探亲
我会独自一人
呆上几天
看几张黄碟
写若干新诗
在变大变空的
房间里
思考一下
满满的人生
2014
Yi Sha
MY STANDPOINT
a public intellectual
that means a rightist
comes to our town
to present his new book
at a big bookstore
he asks me to come
and introduce him
my answer is
“I would rather not
go up on the stage
but I’m asking you to dinner”
a leftist professor
arrives in our town
to hold a speech at some university
he asks me to go and eat with him
I stoutly refuse
you’d first have to kill me
I am afraid of our picture together
all over the Internet
forever ruining my reputation
August 2014
Tr. MW, August 2014
Yi Sha 《我的立場》
MEIN STANDPUNKT
a public intellectual
also ein rechtsabweichler
kommt in die stadt
um sein buch vorzustellen
fragt mich ob ich bereit bin
im großen buchladen
ihn anzukündigen
ich sag “ich mag nicht auf die bühne,
aber ich lad dich zum essen ein!”
ein linker professor
kommt in die stadt
hält einen vortrag
an einer uni
lädt mich ein zum bankett
ich lehne ab
ich geh niemals hin und wenn er mich umbringt
ein foto mit ihm
kann mich im internet
fürs jahrhundert ruinieren
August 2014
Übers. v. MW, 2015
《我的立场》
一个右派公知
抵达本城
在一家书城
签售他的新著
问我愿不愿意
为他站台
我回答：
“站台就免了
我可以请你吃饭”
一个左派教授
抵达本城
在一所大学讲演
请我过去聚餐
我坚辞不去
打死都不去
我怕他一张合影
发到网上
污我半世清誉
2014/8
Yi Sha
DREAM #442
it is winter
I’m in an Internet cafe
to go online
in this Internet bar
there is this old iron stove
from long time ago
with a metal chimney
going outside the house
up on the ledge
you can roast sweet potatoes
that kind of stove
above my head
there’s a gaslight
shining bright
just like the moon
August 2014
Tr. MW, August 2014
Yi Sha
TRAUM NR. 442
es ist winter
in einem internetcafe
will ich online gehen
das internetcafe
hat einen großen eisenofen
aus dem letzten jahrhundert
mit einem blechummantelten rauchfang
auf dem ofen
kann man süßkartoffeln backen
über meinem kopf hängt ein
gaslicht
hell
wie der mond
August 2014
Übers. v. MW, 2015
《梦（442）》
冬天
我在一家网吧
上网
那家网吧
有一座过往年代的
大铁炉子
架有通向户外的
铁皮烟囱
炉口边沿
可以烤红薯的
那种
头顶上有一盏
煤气灯
很亮
像月亮
2014/8
聖光你在哪儿
讓我站立静看
你是棵树
叢林草木
是房屋
燦爛
豔麗
在鳥鸣里
聖光你在哪儿
讓咱站立静看
看时间
看地方
看天堂
在咱心里
聖光你在哪儿
求你奉安静
奉驚奇
工作、休閒、游玩
奉我们交談
倾聽對方
阿門
2014-2015
GEBET
heiliges licht wo immer du bist
lass mich stehen stille schauen
du bist ein baum ein busch ein strauch
du bist ein haus
du bist der glanz
du bist die pracht
im vogelruf
heiliges licht wo immer du bist
lass uns stehen stille schauen
du bist die zeit
du bist der ort
du bist der himmel
in unseren herzen
heiliges licht wo immer du bist
gib uns stille gib uns staunen
gib uns arbeit
gib uns muße spiel gespräche
gib uns aufeinanderhören
amen
MW Juli 2014
Zhu Jian 朱剑
NEW PLACE
I want to invite all my friends
and cook a meal
and then we talk on the balcony
on my balcony
I have the luxury
of space for a wicker chair
and a small table
hit by the sun
every morning
2014-07
Tr. MW, July 2014
Dong Yue
BIRNENLEICHE
heut seh ich endlich
hinterm vorhang
auf dem fensterbrett
von der birne
vor ein paar tagen
den birnenputzen
so eine grosse birne
und so ein grosser
birnenputzen
jetzt ist er verschrumpft und klein
ich schreib genau auf wie es war:
heute entdeck ich die birnenleiche
2009
Übersetzt von MW im Juli 2014
Ye Zhen
FERTILITY
sister is six years older than me
in these six years
mother was in her most fertile years
but didn’t bear children
sister was born in 1957
I was born in 1963
mother said
in these six years
so many people died in our village
so many people died in china
mother also said
fertility is not up to a person
it is up to grain
up to rice and wheat
up to leaves and tree bark
up to ‘guanyin soil’
2014-05-11
Tr. MW, June 2014
Yi Sha
MEMOIR
on august 23rd 1931
sholohov and pasternak
sat down together for breakfast
at moscow airport
before bording a plane bound for kiev
to watch the soviet soccer team
they were invited
70 years ago in the soviet union
the official writer’s association chairman
and a dubious poet
the only time they went out together
it was all in the name of soccer
70 years later in china
one week ago
I had the same experience
2001
Tr. MW, June 2014
Yi Sha
MEMOIREN
am 23. august 1931
saßen scholochow und pasternak
am moskauer flughafen
im kaffeehaus zusammen beim frühstück
dann stiegen sie in ein flugzeug nach kiew
dort spielte das sowjetische team
sie waren beide eingeladen
vor 70 jahren in der sowjetunion
der präsident des autorenverbandes und ein dichter der grauzone
auf dieser einen gemeinsamen reise
und nur für den fußball
siebzig jahre später in china
vor einer woche
hatte ich die gleiche erfahrung
2001
Übersetzt von MW im April 2014
Yi Sha
DREAM #62
I dreamed of
dutch coach van marwijk
beaten in the finals
in his silver-grey suit
that familiar image
but on his left chest
a bloody hole as big as a plate
as if he’d been bombed
black smoke still curling
his heart fell out
a crimson frog
skinned for the frying pan
jumps on the lawn
his son-in-law
mark van bommel screaming
“quick! put our trainer’s heart back in place!”
bald robben looks old
missed three golden chances
now he’s kneeling down
picks up the heart
and puts it back
into the hole in van marwijk’s chest
and then the whole team
each one hugging the trainer
the hole in his chest
has disappeared
July 2010
Tr. MW, June 2014
伊沙
《梦（62）》
我梦见了
荷兰教头范马尔维克
还是决赛落败的场景
还是那身银灰色西装
只是其左胸上
有一个碗大的血洞
像是被炮轰了一下
还冒着一缕青烟
其心掉落出来
像只被剥光了皮
准备下油锅的红蛙
在绿草坪上蹦跳着
还是女婿疼岳丈
范博梅尔大喊一声：
“快给教练把心安上！”
秃头而老相
错失了三次良机的罗本
双膝跪地
将心捧起
放回到范教头
胸前的血洞里
随后每个队员
都跟教练拥抱了一下
他胸前的那个血洞
不见了
2010.7
photo: Scott Savitt
Yi Sha
3 LIGHTERS
in my first two days in lhasa
I bought two lighters
one with a picture of robben
the other with messi
they were both useless
breathless entirely
on this snowy highland
on the roof of the world
even lighters
show a reaction
even soccer stars
can’t keep up the flame
but on the third day
we went up the potala
when we came down again
at the bottom
in a small shop
I bought another one
this lighter had no problem at all
it showed a picture
of a living buddha
May 2012
Tr. MW, June 2014
Yi Sha
3 FEUERZEUGE
in meinen ersten zwei tagen in lhasa
kaufte ich zwei feuerzeuge
eines mit robben
eines mit messi
beide nutzlos
ausser atem
auf der hochebene
auf dem dach der welt
sogar feuerzeuge
werden höhenkrank
sogar fußballstars
geht hier das feuer aus
aber am dritten tag
waren wir im potala
und darunter
auf dem rückweg
in einem kleinen laden
kaufte ich ein feuerzeug
das funktionierte einwandfrei
auf ihm war ein
lebender buddha
Mai 2012
Übersetzt von MW im April 2014
伊沙
《三只打火机》
到达拉萨头两天
我先后买了
两只打火机
一只上贴罗本
一只上贴梅西
都不好使
差一口气
在这雪域高原
在这世界屋脊
连打火机
都有高原反应
连足球明星
都熄火了
但是第三天
我们登上布达拉宫
然后下来
在它下面的
小商店里
买的打火机
却没有任何问题
它的上面
贴着活佛
2012年5月
More soccer in China – YI SHA: THE MOON REFLECTED IN SECOND SPRING
Yan Yongmin
WHAT TO EAT ON THE GREAT WALL
Tomorrow I’m going to Beijing to see the Great Wall!
I couldn’t wait to tell my colleagues.
You better bring something to eat!
On the Great Wall, things are not cheap.
I’ll bring steamed Mantou
and Xian Cai sauerkraut.
You really want to lose face
up on the Great Wall?
I was joking.
I’ll bring milk and bread.
Tr. MW, June 2014
Chun Sue
QUESTIONS BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP
do you think you are an intellectual?
du you think you are an existentialist?
do you think you like to eat zha jiang mian?
do you think you are collecting antiques?
do you think you are following fashion?
do you think you have improved since you started?
do you think you have fulfilled your ideals?
do you think you’re a patriot?
do you think you love the truth?
do you think you dare to say it?
do you think you don’t fear retribution?
do you think you’re a good writer?
do you think you’re a poet?
do you think you’re a good mother?
do you think you’re a good father?
do you think you have loved?
do you think you are moral?
do you think microblogging makes China improve?
question mark mark mark
do you think they are prophets?
do you think you’re a groupie?
do you think there are things you don’t talk about?
do you think there are people you cannot offend?
do you think this novel is your autobiography?
do you think you have talent?
do you think your stuff is going to last?
do you think you have secrets?
do you think you have a big heart?
do you think you are fair to everyone?
do you think you’re responsible?
do you think you play by the rules?
do you think you have nothing to be ashamed of?
do you think you are self-important?
do you think you want revenge?
do you think you are scared of dying?
do you think you make people like you?
do you think you make people hate you?
do you think you have a future?
do you think you are falling behind?
do you think you are lonely?
do you think you are writing a poem?
this girl makes you crazy
let her go on babbling
asking herself
Tr. MW, June 2014
Chun Sue
DREAMING OF LIVING INSIDE A DREAM
Tr. MW, June 2014
Published in EPIPHANY magazine, fall 2014. Go on, look for this great Chinese Dream! I spent October 2014 at Vermont Studio Center with Yi Sha, editor of the daily New Century Poetry series 新世纪诗典. Chun Sue is one of the most well-known figures within this huge independent circle of poets.
Chun Sue
MORNING, AVENUE OF ETERNAL PEACE
Little Brother says: dad, Avenue of Eternal Peace
take a good look
This is the road you walked for over 20 years
I am sitting with Papa and Little Brother
I am almost crying
Finally I know
why I like the Avenue of Eternal Peace
Slowly the car passes the Military Museum
and the red walls of Zhongnanhai
and Xinhua Gate
Papa is small now he fits in an ash box
sitting between us
doesn’t take up much space
We pass the Gate of Heavenly Peace
and I see him
He stands on the square
watching us while we’re passing
Why was it so hard to write about you
You’re the son of a peasant
I was born in a village
I am also the child of a peasant
I put on army songs for you all night
Crying my heart out —
I like all that too.
2012-03-03
Tr. MW, May 2014
Zheng Xiaoqiong
100 ARBEITERINNEN
70) ANONYM
Ich will sie gar nicht beschreiben. Ihr Gesicht
kann ich nicht ausmachen. Sie ist nur eine
ganz kleine Metapher. Unter mehr als 4000
in dieser Fabrik. Mit -zig Abteilungen. Sie
war mir gar nicht bekannt. Was macht das nun
schon aus. Was ich von ihr weiss, ist nur dass
sie starb. Genauer gesagt wurde sie von zwei Hunden
totgebissen. Die beiden Hunde kenne ich,
gelbschwarz und grauweiss. Hüfthohe
reinrassige Wolfshunde. Mit richtigen Wolfsaugen verfolgen sie
vorübergehende Menschen. Sie hocken am Sprung
am Eingang der Chefvilla. Manchmal
angebunden beim Aufgang zur Küche. Jedesmal wenn ich vorbeikomme,
hecheln sie. Strecken die Zungen heraus. Zeigen ihre
scharfen Zähne. Wie Reihen von Messern
die sie dir einstechen. Sie machen mir große Angst.
“Eine Arbeiterin in unserer Fabrik,
diese zwei Hunde haben sie totgebissen.” Offenbar kennen
alle Leute diese Hunde. Genau wie ich.
“Sie war aus Shaanxi. Spritzgussarbeiterin.”
“Sie war sehr schön. Ihr Freund war
bei der Security.” “Wir haben jemanden aus der Heimat
von Xie Xuefen gefunden.” “19 Jahre alt,
ein halbes Jahr erst bei der Fabrik.” Solche Informationen
hab ich von dir. Wie groß du warst, wie du aussahst,
ich weiß es nicht. Obwohl ich mich bemühe,
dich in diesem Gedicht komplett zu beschreiben.
Aber was ich ausdrücken kann, ist auch nicht mehr als das hier.
Im Gewimmel dieser Fabrik
kann ich mich nicht genau an dein Gesicht erinnern.
Letztlich kam es hierher wie die Flut
und ging wieder zurück. Gar nichts
bleibt. Außer Trauer, Bestürzung.
Was von dir bekannt ist. Ich weiß nur
was man hört. Weiblich. Aus Shaanxi. 19 Jahre alt.
Von den Chefhunden totgebissen. Laut Befund der Fabrik
war es Herzversagen. Es gab eine Entschädigung.
Übersetzt von MW im Mai 2014
郑小琼
《女工记》
无名者
我并不想描述她 她的面容
我无法说清楚 她只是一个
小小的隐喻 在四千多人的
工厂 几十个不同部门 她
与我都不认识 但是这又什么
关系 我知道她的消息是她
死了 准确说是让两只条狗
咬死了 那两条狗我见过
黄黑色与灰白色 半人高的
纯种狼狗 像狼的眼睛盯着
来来往往的行人 它们半蹲在
老板的别墅门口 有时
会拴在厨房楼梯 每次经过
看着它喘息 伸出舌头 露出
尖锐的牙齿 像两排尖刀
插在心间 我对它们充满恐惧
“我们工厂一个女工被
那两条狼狗咬死了”显然所有人
跟我一样 知道那两条狼狗
“是陕西人 注塑女工”
“很漂亮的 男朋友是
保安部的”“我们拉上
谢雪芬的老乡”“19岁
进工厂才半年”这些都是
有关你的信息 身高长相
我不知 尽管我努力地
想在这首诗中完整的描述
但是所能表达也仅仅只有这些
在这个工厂拥挤的人群中
我无法清晰把你的面孔说出来
它必定像潮水一样来这里
又像潮水一样消逝了 什么
也不会留下 剩下忧伤与惶惑
有关你的一切 我只知道
工厂传闻 女性 陕西人 19岁
被老板养的狼狗咬死 工厂结论却是
死于心脏病 赔款若干
Xiao Wan
SPEECHLESS
some call the night a hole in the sky
some call the day a corpse of the light
I wish both were true
just like I am a wound of the times
and truth is my scar
Tr. MW, May 2014
Huang Fang
EVENING LIGHT
maybe you also still love me
when the last skylark returns
your darkening hours
are reflecting mine
— remember when I used to follow you
walking from south to north?
your light may be weak
but you grant me freedom. I am an apple
ripening
growing sweeter by the rain
Tr. MW, May 2014
An Qi
AT THE AIRPORT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER
today is september 28
my daughter is on a plane coming to see me in beijing
actually I wanted to see her and lured her with beijing
I arrive at the airport one hour early
I am even thinking if I arrive an hour before
I can see her that much earlier
so many airplanes coming and going
for me it’s like every one carries my daughter
every plane on the sky roars like my daughter when she is running
the plane has come down from the sky
my daughter is coming out
we are looking at each other, without speaking. a little shy.
my daughter has grown very tall.
I hug her, she says: “mama, I’m heavy,
you better not pick me up”.
she says: “mama, I have to pee”,
while I am holding her and she is peeing she says:
“mama, I will pee on you!”
we are in the airport toilet.
I am still holding her wishing she’d pee on me
like that little shaft running out of her, she could not hold it while I changed her diapers.
Tr. MW, May 2014
An Qi
HOW CAN A SPIRIT-TREE FALL ASLEEP PEACEFULLY AMONG THE FEAR
Sweet dreams, my dear
I try to soothe you after the rage
Lightly, lightly patting your branches
Making you deep blue clothes out of warmth
So you fall asleep safe and sound in the night of the spirits
If you are afraid
I will enter deep into your fears and stir the water
I am good at that game
I’m very good at telling myself the second I close my eyes
The world is at peace.
Tr. MW, May 2014
An Qi
AT DU FU’S “STRAW COTTAGE” IN CHENGDU
slender and thin
emaciated. that must be the image
it goes without saying
the sorrowful poet
the nation, the people, they all make him worry
more fat is forbidden
and laughter’s forbidden
so the dufu you’re seeing
(the dufu that’s everywhere)
bronze dufu
stone dufu
clay dufu
paper dufu
the same slender stature
of misery
as if he’d been born like that
I am thinking
the artist must have been frightened stupid
by the dufu inside his mind
Tr. MW, May 2014
Yi Sha
DREAM #395
a bunch of poets
on a big bus
arrive at a station
getting off
I take Ms. Xiang Lianzi’s trunk by mistake
pulling her pink
draw-bar trolley
what a show-off
coming through
Great Peace alley
where I lived when I was small
looking behind me
all the poets are gone
a young Uighur guy
is dragging by baggage
— no, Ms. Xiang Lianzi’s
draw-bar trunk, running like mad
April 2014
Tr. MW, May 2014
DREAM #396
father picks out
books from my school bag
points at a novel by one female author
growling:
“your teacher said you read books under your bench
now I see this is pornography
are you not ashamed?”
(this scene really happened
when I was young)
“You should be ashamed!
your whole generation
should all be ashamed!”
one rousing reply
then I turn around
and laugh at the sky
while I walk out the door
(this scene never happened
in my whole life)
April 2014
Tr. MW, May 2014
DREAM #398
Zhuang Sheng stands there
in jeans shorts
doesn’t do anything
he just stands there
there is joy in my heart
because I remember
though this is a dream
he told me on Weibo
he hoped one day
he could appear in my dreams
the ones I write down
a series of poems
now it has happened
April 2014
Tr. MW, May 2014
DREAM #401
I grab an old friend
by the throat
and push him
to the edge of a pit
snarling at him:
“I can throw you down
then bury you alive
do you believe me?”
“I … believe ….”
he stutters at me
I release him
April 2014
Tr. MW, May 2014
DREAM #402
I receive
miraculous news
Malaysian Airlines flight MH370
the plane has been found
in a picture by Li Yi
DREAM #403
In a lush
botanical garden
there is Yu Youyou
she is like Afanti
in those Nasreddin Afanti stories
she says: “I am Shen Haobo’s sister”
I say: “I know who you are”
she says: “stretch out your hands”
so I stretch out my hands
she says: “now step forward and grasp that plant”
so I step forward and grasp that plant
she says: “close your eyes. when you open your eyes
you have grown together with that plant”
I close my eyes
after a long while I open them —
no-one is there
no botanical garden
only city streets in the dusk
someone playing a violin
April 2014
Tr. MW, May 2014
DREAM #404
I am with a gang
we are robbing a store
a bookstore
the others are at the cash register
counting banknotes
I am at the book racks
counting the books
April 2014
Tr. MW, May 2014
Xiang Lianzi
MARRIAGE VOWS
I was your bridesmaid
you were my matchmaker
you said you
would rather die
before becoming
a former wife
and you told me
taking the heat
should not result in
being cooked into
a former wife
I took the heat
I’ve long become
a former wife
you died long ago
also becoming
a former wife
Tr. MW, March 2014
MORE POEMS BY XIANG LIANZI: here AND here.
Xiang Lianzi
EHEGELÜBDE
du warst meine brautjungfer
ich war deine heiratsvermittlerin
du sagst du
willst lieber sterben
auf keinen fall werden
eine frühere frau
du schärfst mir ein
auch wenn ich durchhalte
darf ich nie werden
eine frühere frau
ich hielt es durch
und bin doch schon lange
eine frühere frau
du bist früh gestorben
du wurdest bald
eine frühere frau
Übersetzt von MW im März 2014
Painting by Ma Lan 马兰
Yan Li
ZWEI MAL SONNE
Yan Li
EIN DU STEHT ZWISCHEN DER SONNE UND MIR
ein du steht zwischen der sonne und mir
du hast zwei arten von strahlen
ein du steht zwischen der sonne und mir
aber dein schatten geht zur sonne
ich sehe dein schatten
geht ganz gerade zur sonne
also bin ich verrückt geworden
ein du steht zwischen der sonne und mir
mit deinem schatten zur sonne beweist du
dass mein strahlen so …..
SCHÖNE SONNE AM SAMSTAG
schöne sonne am samstag
wir sitzen am nachmittag im kaffeehaus im garten
besprechen den tod besprechen reisen
besprechen selbstmörder
kommen von dieser welt in eine andere
ein selbstmörder kommt in eine andere welt
und tötet sich nochmals so kehrt er zurück
Frühe 1990er Jahre
Übersetzt von Martin Winter im Februar 2014
严力
我和太阳之间隔着一个你
我和太阳之间隔着一个你
你拥有两种光芒
我和太阳之间隔着一个你
但你的影子朝向太阳
看见你的影子
直直地朝向太阳
我就知道我已发了疯
我和太阳之间隔着一个你
你用朝向太阳的影子证明了
我的光芒是多么地 。。。。
星期六的阳光明媚
星期六的阳光明媚
我们在下午的露天咖啡馆里
我们谈到死亡谈到旅游
谈到自杀者
谈到从这个世界到另一个世界
谈到自杀者到了另一个世界之后
再自杀一次就又回到了这个世界
Picture by Sara Bernal
Tang Guo
A WILFUL TREE
This is a tree that does what it wants,
a tree that grows at the edge of a cliff.
A tree that’s clasping and climbing the rocks.
A tree that never had milk, never heard music.
A tree that drank northwestern winds,
A tree that had wind poured in its ears.
A tree that would have liked milk, would have liked music.
A tree that stands under dark clouds, waiting for white clouds in the sky.
A tree that doesn’t stand at attention and leans where it pleases.
A tree that slacks off, like a girl out of shape.
A tree that watches the marching ants on its body and won’t get excited no more.
A tree that explores the depths of the stones.
A tree that will not get pulled out, however it sways.
A tree all alone.
A tree that stands on the edge, overlooking the forest.
A tree that can only bow to its partner if it can stay ten yards away;
it cannot grow as they do in the woods, as they hold on to each other’s shoulders.
2005
Tang Guo
SONG OF THE DARK
the sun has gone behind the peak. darkness comes walking out of her home,
unfolds her black velvet and covers his foot.
she pulls up her velvet and covers his waist.
she waits till he’s snoring, then folds up his head.
sleep now, mountains, rivers, towns.
sleep, mosquitoes, beasts and mum.
Tr. MW, Nov. 2013
Tang Guo
MY EPITAPH
she had joy, she was sad. she knew happiness and wandering.
today, she has only joy at her side –
– stolen joy that comes beyond.
she needs your smile,
as you stand at her breast, a little bulge in the earth.
2007
Tr. MW, Nov. 2013
Tang Guo
FOR YOU
What grows on my body, just take it away.
If you want it – what I haven’t grown yet- come tomorrow.
I will try with my life. If I don’t make it – here are the seeds.
Tr. MW, Nov. 2013
Han Zongbao
TRIAL
judge kids by old people judge whites by blacks
judge black by white judge dusk by dawn
judge swallows by crows judge freedom by a bird in a cage
judge elephants by mice judge butterflies by the eye of a storm
judge ants on a tree by fish in a bowl
judge times by their fools judge jobless graduates by golden iphones
judge square by round judge sea by sky
judge cotton by iron judge sheep and grassroots by tanks
the silent lambs, how meek they are!
judge art and writing by dynamite judge people by country
judge earth by snow judge jews by hitler
judge christ on the cross by judas and the last supper
judge shoes by feet judge cities by villages
judge floods by tall dams judge water by wells
judge football by whistle judge hawkers by city security
judge temporary workers by public servants judge migrant laborers by residence permits
judge B by A judge Second by First judge crying by smiling
stars and the gunpowder in bullets have never been exposed to moisture
if the chessboard says you’re guilty then you are guilty
those people who died from secret questioning those who died
when detained or arrested they must have seen
the sullied red flag and the hands when an experienced questioner
becomes a murderer her shining and glorious life
produced how many deaths how many wrongs written in blood
what kind of terror and torture
most one go through before he prefers death to life
relentless questioning what does it mean to him or her
everyone noticed his neck must have been stuck
but on tv they aired his confession
he put on his own trial of his text and the camera
we don’t need courts we don’t need laws our nation doesn’t need them
’cause the trial is completed in this giant one-way judgment
everyone can be a criminal just have to grab them
and put them inside if they are tough bones their flesh can be done with
one after another gets thrown in jail who will be the next one
what is it that’s breaking up happy days and pleasant scenes
laws appear on worthless paper in restricted public trials
just like catwalks once the process is in motion
once you get inside your only trick is to confess
so confess the grief of an innocent man small traces of blood
and disgrace tears are so helpless just what you asked for
an innocent man in the end hangs his head in confession amen
2013-10-29
Tr. MW (10/31/13)
《审判》
韩宗宝
用老人审判孩子 用白人审判黑人
用黑审判白 用早晨审判傍晚
用乌鸦审判燕子 用笼中的鸟审判自由
用老鼠审判一头大象 用风暴眼审判蝴蝶
用缸中的金鱼审判上树的蚂蚁
用小丑审判时代 用土豪金审判蚁族
用圆审判方 用天空审判海洋
用铁审判棉花 用坦克审判绵羊和草根
这些沉默的羔羊多么温驯
用炸药审判文字和艺术 用国家审判人民
用雪审判土地 用希特勒审判犹太人
用犹大和晚餐审判十字架上的上帝
用脚审判鞋子 用村庄审判城市
用高高的堤坝审判洪水 用井审判水
用黑哨审判足球 用城管审判小贩
用公仆审判临时工 用暂居证审判民工
用A审判B 用甲审判乙 用笑审判哭
星星和弹孔中的火焰 一直不曾受潮
棋盘上标明你有罪 你就有了罪
那些死于秘密审判的人 那些死于
拘禁和逮捕的人 必定见过
被污染的红旗和手 当一个审讯能手
成为凶手 她光辉而荣耀的一生
制造了多少死亡和冤屈 血书累累
需要经历怎样恐怖可怕的折磨
一个人才会 宁死不生
无懈可击的审讯 究竟对他意味什么
大家注意到了他被狠狠卡过的脖子
但电视已经播出他的口供
他对着镜头和台词做出了自我审判
何需法庭 何需法律 国家不需要这些
因为审判业已完成 这单向式的强大审判
每一个人都可以是罪犯 不过是抓起来
再关进去 硬骨头可以从肉体上消灭
一个个的人陆续入狱 下一个是谁
有什么在崩溃 大好良辰好景虚设
法律形同废纸 有限的公开审判
仿佛秀场 那木马般的程序一旦启动
只要你进去了 你唯一的招就是招
招吧 一个无罪之人的悲伤 略带血痕
和耻辱 泪水如此无力 如你所愿
一个无罪的人最终 低头认罪 阿门
2013.10.29
This poem was written partly in response to the New Express 新快报 / Chen Yongzhou 陈永洲 incident, as the author told me after he showed his poem around on Weibo. However, this is not one of those poems which act like condensed news articles, like Zhao Siyun’s Lily’s Story or Sheng Xue’s Your Red Lips A Wordless Hole (German version see Angelika Burgsteiner’s translation). Han Zongbao‘s poem seems to be less straightforward.
“When an experienced questioner/ becomes a murderer/ her shining and glorious life/ produced how many deaths how many wrongs”
Whose glorious life? The murdering questioners? Why “her”? The female pronoun seems to indicate a particular person. Please look at the comments for answers to these questions.
Xiang Lianzi
FIRST STORY
“In danger the sea cucumber will split itself
one half it gives the world to devour,
the other half escapes.” – from W. Szymborska, Autotomy.
I said let’s not talk poetry at the lunar new year let us tell stories
like a bricklayer half of his head bashed in by half of a steel pipe
like he and his sick room friends
arguing anything, twitching like sleepwalking
he says 3+2=1
like three fingers plus two equals one hand
two hands together equals one pair
like what a rat hates most is rat poison
whoever loves eating rat poison most must be a rat
like I said they were arguing anything
from mathematics into philosophy
from singular into plural
from fingers into a skull bashed in
into rats, poison, leaks or balloons
like 11+11=22, 22-2=2 and so on
he said not that leaks cannot be fixed
just like rat poison will always be digested by rats
just like rats knocked a hole in his skull
his skull has a leak, like a balloon
a leaking balloon is very hard to blow up
just like his half-bashed in skull pops in and out with a yawn
he said in the box with the rat poison there is no rat
rat poison is very bad for rats
just like reading is very bad for your head
just like rats eating his brain slipping into his head
when he said he had a headache, I had a headache
like he wanted me to put rat poison into his brain
like he said: “I’ll soon be an idiot
when they have finished my brain
my boss will dump me, my girlfriend dumps me”
like he is all desperate
crying his heart out like a wolf
howling just like a cat who cannot catch rats
like one hundred rats cannot overcome one single cat
he said: no-one can figure it out, nobody can fix this leak
except me, I have a method, I take a bit of cement, very good quality
mix it with alcohol, ts ts. believe me I have the technique.
he pointed at his broken temporal bone like pointing at some leak on a roof
like a leak on a roof he was fixing
Tr. MW, Oct. 2013
Xiang Lianzi
GROUND FOR DIVORCE
she is too much like her
oh, your lover
my enemy
1979
in vietnam
you shot her
she shot at me suddenly from
behind a cow
you killed her
she killed my comrade
so you shot her
I shot her cow
she died
her cow died
you found her
I found her cowhide
you had a cow
I bought her cowhide
you’re having me on
no
her cowhide hangs in my hut
she looks just like her
sometimes
I really think they
might be sisters
just like your enemy
just like a dream
2013-03-23
Tr. MW Oct. 2013
Xiang Lianzi
SCHEIDUNGSGRUND
sie gleicht ihr zu sehr
oh, deine geliebte
meine feindin
1979
in vietnam
hast du geschossen
sie schoss plötzlich versteckt
hinter einer kuh
du hast sie erschossen
sie hat meinen kameraden erschossen
und du hast sie erschossen
ich erschoss ihre kuh
sie starb
ihre kuh starb
du fandest sie
ich fand ihr kuhleder
du hast gekauft
ich kaufte ihre kuhhaut
du prahlst wie vom rinderblasen
nein
kuhhaut hängt in meiner kate
sie gleicht ihr sehr
manchmal
glaub ich sie seien
schwestern
genau wie die feindin
genau wie im traum
2013-03-23
Übersetzt von MW im Frühling 2013
Painting by Sara Bernal
Duo Duo
TO BE ABLE
to be able to drink big gulps of warm wine
to enjoy glory days in stupor
to be able to think
behind the ticking window curtain at noon
think of trivial things
to be really embarrassed for a long time
to be able to take a walk for yourself
sit down on a chair painted green
close your eyes for a while
to be able to sigh
thinking of unpleasant things
to forget where the ash
dropped from your cigarette
to be able to lose your temper
when you are sick, to do undignified things
to be able to walk along a familiar road
walking all the way home
to have someone kiss you
wash you scrub you, to have exquisite lies
waiting for you, to be able to live in this way
would be great, any place, any time
picking flowers
mouths finding mouths
no unrests no revolution
what flows down to the ground is the sacrificed wine
to be able to live in this way
would be great, would be the ultimate thing to enjoy!
Tr. MW, Sept. 2013
多多
《能夠》
能够有大口喝醉烧酒的日子
能够壮烈、酩酊
能够在中午
在钟表滴嗒的窗幔后面
想一些琐碎的心事
能够认真地久久地难为情
能够一个人散步
坐到漆绿的椅子上
合一会儿眼睛
能够舒舒服服地叹息
回忆并不愉快的往事
忘记烟灰
弹落在什么地方
能够在生病的日子里
发脾气，作出不体面的事
能够沿着走惯的路
一路走回家去
能够有一个人亲你
擦洗你，还有精致的谎话
在等你，能够这样活着
可有多好，随时随地
手能够折下鲜花
嘴唇能够够到嘴唇
没有风暴也没有革命
灌溉大地的是人民捐献的酒
能够这样活着
可有多好，要多好就有多好！
Yan Jun
February 17
Like everyone parting we cry.
Like every old shirt. Dust and dirt on old clothes.
Like all days of old. Fire on snow.
For thousands of miles. The moon on the sea. Shines on old streets.
We’re parting, unlike everyone
from the night till the day we won’t cry again.
Like dust washed with snow. Words are just sound.
We talk. Flying over the sea, quietly.
2006-02-21
Tr. Martin Winter, July 2012
2月17日
像所有要分开的人一样我们哭
像所有的旧衣服 旧衣服上的尘土
像所有旧日子 雪地上的焰火
几千里 月光照着海 照着胡同
所有人中的例外 我们分开
从夜晚 到白天 都不再哭
像尘土被雪清洗 言语也只是声音
我们说话 在海面上静静飞行
2006.2.21
Yan Jun
17. Februar
Wir weinen wie alle, wir trennen uns bald.
Wie alle alten Kleider. Der Staub in den Falten.
Wie alle alten Tage. Feuer auf Schnee.
Tausende Meilen. Der Mond scheint aufs Meer. Scheint auf alte Gassen.
Wir sind nicht wie alle. Wir trennen uns
Und weinen nicht mehr von der Nacht bis zum Tag.
Wie Staub weggewaschen vom Schnee. Alle Worte sind Klang.
Wir reden. Wir fliegen ganz still übers Meer.
2006-02-21
Übersetzt von Martin Winter Juli 2012
venice (written on a city map) one yard of scents, with blossoms filled / one passage through the midday sun / one house, one water, one whole town / one thousand years become one day / they know it here, you’ll die quite soon / and everyone will come and say / what you may claim, and what remains / and then they’re ready to depart / cause what we are stays in this world / what we have done, what we have heard / one scent, one stone, one sound, one plan / a plea that says please understand
MW June 2010
venedig (auf einem stadtplan notiert) ein hof im duft, mit blüten voll / ein durchgang in der mittagszeit / ein haus, ein wasser, eine stadt / als wären tausend jahr ein tag / man weiss es hier, man stirbt recht bald / und alle kommen, es zu sehen / was bleibt, und was man noch erwirbt / dann wollen sie auch wieder gehen / denn was wir sind, bleibt in der welt / was wir getan, was wir geschaut / ein duft, ein stein, ein laut, ein plan / und eine bitte um verstehen MW 5. Juni 2010
《在威尼斯怀念喀什古城》
威尼斯地图记下
花香一院
犹太区
中午一通道
一屋、一水、一城
一日一千年
这里晓得生命很短
大家来看
啥事剩下、还能得到
然后就走掉
我们所做到的留下
一香、一响
一图、一求
请你听懂
2010.6
中国大好き 