Beyond the words, spring is in full bloom
Strangers gather together
To die for the brilliance and the decay.
Yao Bin is an acclaimed poet of China
Yao Bin, born in 1972 in Fuling, Chongqing, currently resides in Chongqing. He has representative works such as the poetry series The Common Man Yao Bin, the poetry series Technique, the poetry series ‘Tonight’, and the long poem Village Living Notes. His published poetry collections include Chongqing, 3:06, The Carefree Order, Selected Poems of Yao Bin, Long and Short Verses, and Sketches of Life.
姚彬，1972年出生，重庆涪陵人，现居重庆。有代表作《俗人姚彬》系列组诗，《术》系列组诗，《今夜》系列组诗，长诗《村居笔记》等。出版诗集《重庆，3点零6分》《逍遥令》《姚彬诗选》《长短句》《生活的小样》等。
(Translated by Ma Yongbo)
Crossing the River by Feeling the Words
Crossing the River by Feeling the WordsI set a feast in words
You are the only guest I’ve invited
We raise cups that belong to a crowd
And get drunk for them.
Beyond the words, spring is in full bloom
Strangers gather together
To die for the brilliance and the decay.
White paper awaits black characters
You lay out whirlpools and boats
I feel my way to vastness and rapids.
The green mountains in the distance
Like a dilapidated dock from years gone by
***
摸着词语过河
我在文字中摆下宴席
你是我宴请的唯一客人
我们举着一群人的杯子
为他们而醉。
文字外面春光灿烂
不认识的人集合在一起
为灿和烂殉情。
白纸期待黑字
你摆下漩涡和船只
我摸出浩荡和湍急。
远处的青山
像年久失修的码头
***
Is the tune wrong?
Is the tune wrong?The one who sang my heart now lies on the paper
He has lost the way back.
In this lying down, does he mean to plug the loophole
Or make me his lifelong occupation?
A bird in the forest becomes another bird when it sings
It retracts its throat, and the sound has issued from another bird’s vocal cords.
At this moment, it’s easy to recall the boy who once caught birds
And his skill in calling friends and companions in the forest.
The one who sings others’ hearts may also cause large-scale accidental injuries.
***
曲有误吗？
那个唱我心的人，而今已躺在纸上
他已丢失了回去的路。
这一躺，他是要堵住漏洞
还是要我成为他终身的职业？
林中的鸟在鸣唱时成为了另一只鸟
它收起喉咙，声音已从另一只鸟的声带发出。
此时，很容易想起，那个曾经捕鸟的少年
在林中呼朋引伴的绝技。
那个唱别人心的人，也可能大面积地制造误伤。
***
Gulangyu
GulangyuThe smooth trunks of coconut trees hold the greetings from the neighboring province.
The green leaves in the upper layer are draped in sunlight, and a small part of the shadow
Leaks onto the green of the lower layer. Because of the sunlight, I see
The shadow. At night, moonlight and lamplight huddle together
Without distinction of strength, shining together.
Moonlight and seawater, a huge cool quilt
Covers the chests of the two provinces.
The cool wind that blows through tree holes and the sky passes through the consulate.
The conchs on the dining table are terrified at the wind, while the drunk
Dance at the wind. The new person sitting in the old pawnshop
Is like a bestseller writing about the old times, on the waistband
Filled with soul-stirring recommendations. Carving the flourishing age
In the alley full of tea fragrance, old residents and new guests sit around.
Satay noodles and ginger duck meet every day without greetings
A bowl of clear soup, floating a few chopped green onions, like boats on the sea
Nearly hot spots, catering to the appetite with a bit of cleverness.
***
鼓浪屿
椰树光滑的躯干留住了隔壁省的问候。
上层的绿叶披着阳光，小部分的阴影
漏到下一层的绿上。因为阳光，我看到
阴影。一到夜晚，月光和灯光挤在一起
不分强弱，共同照耀。
月光和海水，巨大的凉被
盖着两个省的胸膛。
吹过树洞和天空的凉风吹过领事馆。
餐桌上的海螺闻风丧胆，醉酒的人
闻风起舞。老当铺里坐着的新人，像
一部书写旧时代的畅销书，腰封上
写满夺魂的推荐语。雕刻盛世
布满茶香的巷子里，围坐着旧人和新客。
沙茶面和姜母鸭天天见面，无需问候
一碗和汤，飘着几粒葱花，像海上的船只
几近热点，取巧着胃口。
_________________
