When I was small, I made a brand-new slingshot
powerful and sophisticated, I hunted birds everywhere to shoot
the birds fled at the mere sight of the bow…
Zhou Xianwang
Zhou Xianwang, born in Anqing, Anhui Province in 1962, has lived in Nanjing since 1979. He studied at Nanjing Normal University, Beijing Normal University and Nanjing University. He holds a part-time postgraduate degree and senior professional title. He is currently Vice President of Nanjing Poetry Society and Chairman of Nanjing Shuren Cultural Center.
周贤望，1962年生于安徽安庆，1979年始居南京。曾就读于南京师范大学、北京师范大学，南京大学，在职研究生学历，高级职称。现为南京诗词学会副会长，南京树人文化中心董事长。
Translated by Ma Yongbo
Slingshot
When I was small, I made a brand-new slingshot
powerful and sophisticated, I hunted birds everywhere to shoot
the birds fled at the mere sight of the bow,
then I thought of shooting chickens
but hens lay eggs, then dogs
but dogs guard homes, then oxen
but oxen plough the fields, so
what shall I shoot? If I aim at nothing
I will never be content. What shall I shoot?
as an old Chinese saying goes:
when one bears a sharp weapon, the urge to harm arises at once
there is also a Western proverb: to a man with a hammer
everything looks like a nail. Such is human nature
—beyond East and West
弹弓
小时候，我做了一把崭新的弹弓
很厉害很高级，便到处寻鸟打
鸟儿都惊弓而去，便想着打鸡
但鸡要下蛋，那就打狗
但狗要看家，那就打牛
但牛要耕地，那么
打什么呢？如果不打点什么
总是不甘心的。打什么呢？
常言道：身怀利器，杀心顿起
西谚也说：在一个拿着锤子的人眼里
满世界都是钉子。这就是人哪
——无问东西
_____
Buckwheat
Buckwheat is the frailest crop in my hometown
in mountain valleys, on hillocks, beside brooks
wherever there is a little soil, she grows
in the coldest season, against bitter winds
it struggles to thrive
Back then, I loved to sing of her
red stalks, green leaves, white blossoms
bearing black seeds
ground into white flour
made into dark cakes
the buckwheat cake tastes
bitter
yet it turned the lean dearth of my boyhood
into sweetness
I will always be grateful to buckwheat. I shall never forget
her stooped form
her fight against the wind. Deep in her core
that steadfast faith to bear seed
she is more beautiful than all other crops
Her brief whole life is lived in winter
just like my mother
荞麦
荞麦，是故乡最羸弱的一种庄稼
在山沟里，在山冈上，在小河旁
只要有一点土，她都能生长
在最寒冷的季节，迎着凛冽的风
努力地生长
那时，我喜欢歌唱她
红秆子绿叶开白花
结的是黑籽
磨的是白粉
做的是黑粑
荞麦粑的味道
很苦
却让我把少年时代的青黄不接
吃成了甘甜
对于荞麦，我永远感恩。我不会忘记
她佝偻的姿态
在风中的挣扎。骨子里
那份对结籽儿的坚贞
她比所有的庄稼都更加美丽
她短短的一生都活在冬天
就像我的母亲
_____
Three Lives
—Written for Father’s Day
Once he lived his life for me
he said I was a karmic debtor reborn
that from grievances of a past life
we became father and son in this lifetime
As if fearing I would claim what he owed
he never treated me gently
his temper blazed like scorching midday sun
or burst forth as an afternoon downpour
I was always afraid of him
he spared none of my flaws
yet he feared me too
afraid he had no money when I came to ask
The older I grew, the farther apart we became
till all he once did for me, I could do myself
I knew what he knew, and more besides
kind words he always bade Mother speak to me
fine food was always made by her hand
between him and me, beyond money
there seemed nothing else at all
When his breath left him, per custom
as eldest son I must wash his body
and dress him for his final journey
so he might depart clean
as once he bathed me in childhood
the only difference: into this water
my tears fell unawares
When I carried him away, he was so light
light as an infant
light as I once was, long ago
only this time
the last time, he rested in my arms
The moment I set him down
my heart split open, a piece torn away
that void in my life can never be filled to this day
father, you owed me already in our past life
in this life, I am the one come to claim the debt
I hope you will still owe me in the next
so I may still be your son
三生
——写在父亲节
他曾为我活过一次
他说我是他的讨债鬼转世
因为有前世的恩怨
才作了今生的父子
大约是怕我向他讨债
他从来不给我好脸色看
要么像午间毒辣的阳光
要么就像午后的一场暴雨
我一直都很怕他
他从不放过我任何一个缺点
不过，他也一直都很怕我
怕我找他要钱时，他却没有
越是长大，我就离他越远
直到他能为我做的，我自己都能做了
他懂的我懂，他不懂的我也懂
而好听的话，他总是教母亲对我说
好吃的东西，也都是母亲做的
我和他，除了钱的关系
仿佛就没有别的关系
他咽气之后，按照风俗
作为长子，我得为他擦洗身体
换上寿衣，让他干干净净地去
就像小时候他为我洗澡一样
不同的，只是这水中
不知不觉，有我的泪滴
抱他走时，他是那么的轻
轻得就像一个婴儿
轻得就像我很小的时候一样
不同的，只是这一次
最后的一次，他被我抱在怀里
从放下他的时候起
我就感觉到心已撕裂，缺了一角
生命中的这个空洞，至今无法填补
父亲啊，上辈子你就欠着我的
这辈子，我是你的讨债鬼
但愿下辈子，你还欠着我的
好让我，还做你的儿子
__________
