Fan Jinghua: The Moon Reaches the Mid-Autumn

　The Moon Reaches the Mid-Autumn

It started to drizzle toward dusk
And the moon would not be out
At noon when the sun was sprinkling liquid gold
You said: Remember to watch the moon tonight
Although it won’t be full until tomorrow
We talked about yesterday when the moon was almost round
Then we spoke of today, a day of celebration of family union
And a day of sending wishes to someone far away
We noted that people are different during the day
But the same commonplaces conform them during night
You said: During night there are too many stars
And you have no way to find out
Whether the ones I gaze at happen to be those you fix eyes on
Yes, your balcony is yours, and my window is mine
They may appear to be high from the ground
But they are both so low below the stars, below the sky
You said: The moon is the only one there
Distant to us both, and no one in the world can claim ownership
I did not tell you
That I had made copies of the picture you sent me yesterday
And stored them in different spaces
Now I do not have to open the files
And you are still before my eyes
You are in nankeen skirt topped with an orange sleeveless blouse
The water behind you is rippling beneath the plank pier
No one is in the background
But I do not believe it is an auto take
There is always someone beyond what makes you
Someone being there looking at you and having no intention
To underscore my not being there
Yes, I have gladly accepted your invitation
But it seemed that there would be a delay for us
To see the full moon at the same time tonight
　　　　　　　　　　　September 14, 2008

　　月到中秋

黄昏时分　下起了小雨
月亮恐怕不会在今夜圆了
午前　太阳泻下流体的金黄
你说：记得今晚看月亮
不过据说明晚的月亮最圆
我们都说到昨夜月亮只差一点点就圆了
然后我们说到今天　团圆的日子
给远方亲朋遥送祝福的日子
我们说白天的人们各有不同
而到了夜晚　相似的寻常事令人所思所想也相差不多
你说　夜晚星空纷繁　你无从知道
我盯着的那些星星是否也就是我所凝目的闪烁
是啊　你的阳台是你的　我的窗户是我的
它们都离地面很高
但是在星空下　在月亮下　它们都无此低矮
你说　月亮只有一个　与我们同样遥远
而这个世界上没有谁能够将它据为己有
我没有告诉你　你昨天寄来的照片被我复制了几份
分藏在不同的空间
此刻我无须打开任何一个文件
你仍然浮现在我的眼前
本白的裙子　桔黄的短袖
脚下是木板码头　湖水在你身后涟漪
背景上空无一人
而我也不相信那是一张自拍
总有人在场景之外将你的此刻呈现出来
那个人看着你　并无意凸显
此刻看你照片的人不在现场
是的　我很欣然接受你异地赏月的邀请
但是显然这只能再一次延后
今夜　我们不能同时凝望一轮圆满
　　　　　　　　　　　2008年9月14日中秋节