Fan Jinghua: Tongueless

　　　　Tongueless

For the first twenty years, I am a bird, chirping around my Mum,
And know that she has never taken my words seriously.
Oh, how happy I am, as a bird.
For the next twenty years, I am a clam, keeping my Dad at bay,
And know that she does never persuade Him, but I still love my Mum.
"Till Death Do My Lips Part" is a game which I have never played well,
For my stomach makes noises in due time, and the weather is cutting cold;
I’ve tried in vain to bite off my tongue.
For the twenty years that follow, I talk with my Dad, man to man,
And know that he has been equating arrogance to reverence.
The last twenty years of my life, I am too old to say anything;
With only a granddaughter taking me to an occasional walk,
Whatever sound I make will be blown away in the wind.
　　　　　　　　　　　　June 2, 2009


　　　不说

前二十年，我叽叽喳喳，最喜欢我的就是我妈，
她从未将我的话当真，可是我们那么开心。
中间二十年，我一声不发，和我爸赌气，
我知道我妈不会劝他，但我还是喜欢我妈。
打死我也不说，这是一个游戏，
可我玩不好，因为肚子会按时咕咕地叫，
天又很冷，咬舌头根本无济于事。
接着二十年，我才和我爸平等对话，
而且明白了他以前将傲慢当做尊严。
最后二十年，我老了，只有我的孙女儿
偶尔带我出去溜溜，陪我走慢路，
而我说什么话都无所谓了，不如耳边风。
　　　　　　　　　　2009年6月2日

　　For over two weeks already, this blog website has been blocked by Chinese government, for the day after tomorrow is coming back again for its twentieth anniversary. Chinese poeple have been tongueless about it for twenty years already, and it seems that this year there is some noise or voice about it. A few days ago, I planned to keep silence for a fortnight, but still I cannot just tie up my tongue.