Zhang Xinxin
ONE PERSON’S LIFE
It means you spread your hand very slowly,
from rock to paper,
you need many, many years.
October 2018
Translated by MW in March 2019
Zhang Xinxin
MENSCHENLEBEN
Das heißt du machst ganz langsam die Hand auf,
von Stein zu Papier,
du brauchst viele, viele Jahre.
Oktober 2018
Übersetzt von MW im März 2019
Mo Du
17 BRANCHES
A branch in my orchard
asked me
who was buried down at the back.
A precious place in Fengshui!
I swooped with my scissors
and sent him flying.
A different branch said:
“About the airport up on the mountain
when are they going to start construction?
Will we have to move to some other garden?”
I made no sound
but my scissors dealt with the question.
Another branch wanted an explanation
of the El Niño phenomenon.
I gave him satisfaction,
it was a clean cut.
Then the whole tree was rustling its branches
“What about this year’s apples,
do you have the money in hand?”
I went for my ax
and chopped down the thing.
12/2/15
Tr. MW, Dec. 2015
