The ancient road stretches eastward, weathered and proud,
Preserved from the ravages of all-destroying time clad in sharp armour.
Tianjie
Tianjie, born in Huangyan, Zhejiang Province in 1969, is a medical worker and member of the Chinese Writers Association. He embarked on literary creation in 1986 and had his works published starting in 1988. He attended the 24th Youth Poetry Session and the 10th Reminiscence of Youth Poetry Session hosted by Poetry Periodical under the Chinese Writers Association. He has brought out three individual poetry collections, alongside numerous co-authored anthologies and critical essay collections. He is the recipient of multiple Annual Excellent Creation Awards issued by Zhejiang Writers Association. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Zhejiang Poets and Chairman of Huangyan District Writers Association of Taizhou City.
天界，1969年出生，浙江黄岩人，医务工作者，中国作家协会会员，1986年开始写作，1988年开始发表作品，曾参加中国作协《诗刊》社第24届“青春诗会”、《诗刊》社第十届“青春回眸”。出版诗集三本，著有合集、评论集等多部。多次获浙江省作家协会年度优秀创作奖等奖。《浙江诗人》主编；台州市黄岩区作家协会主席。
Translated by Ma Yongbo
Ancient Road of Song Dynasty Charm
The pavilion halfway up the mountain stands like a solitary mystical gate,
dividing heaven and earth into two realms. —
We take seats inside the pavilion.
A surging force rises, like a colossal whirlpool of years.
It is like a massive mirror,
automatically unfolding the cycle of mortal life and death before our eyes.
Flowers on the hillside sway gently in the breeze,
blossoming more gorgeously, yet steeped in silent sorrow.
The ancient road stretches eastward, weathered and proud,
preserved from the ravages of all-destroying time clad in sharp armour.
Our eyes at this moment rule over heaven and earth in their stead,
surveying this empty yet beguiling mortal world.
宋韵古道
半山腰的凉亭，像一座不二玄门，
分割整个天空和大地。——
我们坐在凉亭里面。
似乎有汹涌的力量，如岁月巨大漩涡。
如一面巨大镜子。
在我们面前自动演绎人世间生死。
山坡上的花，轻轻摇曳着。
越发地艳丽。又带着某种沉默的殇。
古道通向东方。沧桑，睥睨。
从披坚执锐，毁灭一切的时间里留下。
我们此刻的眼睛，替代天地主宰，
巡视虚无又充满诱惑的世界。
***
Car Window
Does the sunset secretly foretell some possibility?
Through the car window, that breath-taking face is still crystal clear.
Is turning around meant for a finer reunion?
The sunset lies shattered.
Shattered by window glass,
shattered by a hoarse, farewell uttered with every ounce of strength.
It is a pair of rough palms,
brushing over a delicate face, aching to the core.
No follow-up unfolds. Has the story reached its end?
There must still be words left unspoken —
车窗
夕阳正神秘地预示某种可能？
透过车窗，仍然清晰看到令人窒息的脸。
转身是为了更好遇见？
夕阳是破碎的。
——是被玻璃破碎的。
是被一句低沉，用尽全力的道别。
是一双粗糙的手，
抚摸过精致，无比心痛的脸。
并没有下文。故事是否结束？
肯定还有没说出来的话——
***
Start of Spring
The train waking up in the small hours speeds toward a dim tunnel far away.
No red signal lights, no derailment either. —
A sleeping soul casts off wariness and naivety entirely.
On this lovely night, we all clench our own hands,
grit our teeth to survive, never betray a secret to anyone —
Life brims with romance, yet hardship lingers all the same.
Stars hang firm above the vault of heaven.
I pour remorse from the wine flask, also the honey from years gone by.
Beyond the window is nothing but cold wind, the dawn is about to break.
Those who cease chasing the meaning of joy
are fighting against a gilded mask.
Birth shapes who you are, abstraction can alter nothing at all.
In stillness, only sorrowful wild fantasies and ferocity remain.
Like a sorcerer, between you and me,
he schemes tirelessly to bridge two separate worlds.
立春
下半夜醒来的列车，从远处开向灰暗隧道。
没有红灯也没有脱轨。——
一个沉睡的人，卸下警惕和幼稚。
美好的夜晚，我们都是握着自己双手，
咬紧嘴唇活下来并从不告密——
生活充满浪漫，而艰辛。
星星始终悬于天穹。
从酒壶里取出后悔，取出多年前的蜂蜜。
窗外除了冷风，天色即将发亮。
停止寻找快乐意义的人，
正在对抗黄金面具。
生是你的人，抽象也改变不了什么。
安静时，只剩下悲伤的疯狂想象和暴力。
像一个巫师，在你我之间，
费尽心机沟通两个世界。
___________________
Read: Harbin Reminiscences – Poetry from China
