Monday, September 21, 2009

Fan Jinghua: Love Song for a Transparent One

  Love Song for a Transparent One

What bears you down is like a fat earthworm
Under a purslane
Writhing
While the last sun sinks whole into the unknown
Before it explodes at an arrow
This is the penultimate illusion men must rely to survive another day
Now night has fallen, Transparent Darling, come and lie down by my side
Remember to whisper some nonsense
So I can feel your existence
This world is so dark
          September 21, 2009

  给一个透明人的情歌

那样的下坠感像一条肥蚯蚓
在一棵马齿苋的遮挡下
拱动
而最后一颗太阳在被射裂之前
完整地坠入天边之外
这是人类必须依赖的幻象
今夜,和我同寝吧
亲爱的透明人,你要低语一些废话
让我循声感到你的存在
世界这么黑
        2009年9月21日

A Note:
In Chinese mythology, there were at a time ten suns in the sky, and the earth was in severe drought. Then, a man called Yi (or Houyi, the husband of Moon Goddess Chang'e) tried to shoot them down to save the people. After nine were shot down, the tenth hid itself under a purslane. For gratitude, the sun promised the purslane that no matter how hot the season the purslane would never be scorched. That is why the purslace, even after it is uprooted, will take a long long time to dry. This is a folklore my mother used to tell me when we were drying the purslane for autumn and winter (when there would be no green vegetable on our table). For a little more "orthodox" Chinese mythology about Houyi, refer to the Wiki for "Houyi" at (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houyi).

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You sent me to my dictionary to look up the word purslane! Thanks! I always enjoy adding a new word to my knowledge!

George