Fan Jinghua: The Hidden String

This poem was written for my teacher of An Introduction to Literary Theory in Beijing Normal University. He has recently been awarded a "Noble" prize but most probably could not go to the ceremony due to his imprisonment. If anyone in mainland China searches his name in the Internet, there would be nothing. If anyone tries to publish to his name in the internet space, the characters of his name would be ***.
这首诗献给我北京师范大学时的《文学概论》老师，他最近获得了一个大奖，但是他无法去领取，因为他在监狱中服刑。

　　　　The Hidden String
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　To ***
It is something that has a name but denies any word,
It lies somewhere, tense, but eludes human touch and eyesight,
And it sounds and resounds with mysterious beauty
Even in the plain field and on the water.
If there is any playing, it is only purposely accidental,
And people who hear it do not hear with ears,
For no voice can imitate a single note that fits for a song for dead souls.
A conscientious one knows
The knowing of it is not an end but an endlessly approaching,
But whoever knows this smiles a bitter sweet smile,
Like the arch striding the nose bridge when one looks into another’s eyes.
If one recognizes in another the long lost unrequited love,
What else can one hope for?
Separate lovers in deep love need the embrace of darkness to sleep tight,
And the skylight can be sealed in the morning light.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　10 Oct. 2010

　　　　隐弦
　　　　　　　　致***
它有一个名字，却没有字能够表示，
它在某处，紧绷，
但人的视觉和触觉不能见证，
甚至在平远之野和浩荡的水面上，
它也会发出玄妙之音。
假若它显示为一种演奏，
那肯定是故作偶然而弹给了亡灵。
一位有良心的人知道
有关它的知识从不是一种抵达
而是一种无限的接近；
无论是谁，一旦知晓这一点，
都会荡漾出苦涩而甜美的微笑，
正如一双眼凝视着另一双眼，
跨在鼻梁两边的弧线，原是一条。
如果一个人从另一个人那儿
认出了失去已久的苦恋，一生
更有何求？分离的情人
相爱太深，需要黑暗的拥抱才能沉睡，
从此，天窗可在晨曦中封起。
　　　　　　　　　　　　2010年10月11日