Fan Jinghua: Spring Evening

　　　Spring Evening

Those phoenix trees hold the last rays of the sun,
they transfix you, and a halo rises out of your head.
Two swallows glide in, hooking your eyes.
They make two arches, almost parallel, the longest in the world,
as if at each end someone hangs heavy, dangling.

　　* * * * * * * *
Words can describe what you see, but they won’t convey the sight.
In this warmth, you mutter, one even has no tempers to lose.
So you walk backward along the outmost track on the playing field.
The kids are still playing football, five-a-side, on a basket court.
You stand by, watching, till a straying ball comes by,
and you stop it and kick it back.
The boy after the ball gives you a big sunny smile.

Your man has his business dinner, which means
he will not come back before the late night show of romance
makes you sick of the bedroom.
You are walking on driveway to the apartment buildings,
in the heated theme song of a TV drama about some emperor.
　　　　　　　　　　　March 18-19, 2008


　　　春暮
梧桐的树梢上，夕阳的残辉
浓、暗，你的灵魂在头上盘旋。
而两只燕子，划出平行的弧线，
钩住你的眼睛。
这是世界上最长的线，或许
两头都挂着人，晃悠悠地垂着。

　　＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
看到的物体，你可以描述，
但是没有语言可以传达景象。
在这氤氲的春暖中，你退着走，
在操场最外一圈的跑道上。

男孩们还在踢球，在篮球场上，
五人一方。你站在一边，看，
直到一只踢歪了球滚向你的方向；
你挡住，踢了回去，
那个追过来的男孩笑得很阳光。

今晚，你的男人仍然是应酬，不可能
在夜场言情剧令你厌恶卧室之前回来。
而此刻你走在公寓院子里的行车道上，
门卫的小房间传出帝王剧亢奋的主题歌。
　　　　　　　　　　　　2008年3月19日