商禽·《透支的脚印》英译

这正好。若是连生前的每一个手势都必须收回，在如此冷冷的重量下；若是必须重复我曾说过的一切话语，每一声笑，在这没有时间的空间里；就如我现在所践履的——我收回我省钱的步步的脚印——然而我不必。这正好

这真好。不再有“时间”。没有话语。阴影是可触的藻草。这路已不复是路。野莴苣与牛蒡花。这已经是屋脊。“在蛇莓子与虎耳草之间。”太好了。除开月光的重与冷。我收回我的脚印。我的脚印回到它们自己……

今夜我在没有时间和语言的存在之中来到这昔日我们曾反复送别的林荫小径。（“今夜故人来不来。”）今夜故人来不来？我行行复行行。当天河东斜之际，隐隐地觉出时间在我无质的躯体中展布；一个初生的婴儿以他哀哀的啼声宣告——鸡已鸣过。而我自己亦清楚地知道——关于那些脚印，我已经透支了。

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Overdrawn Footprints

–In Memory of Those Days with YA Xian at Zuoying

Shang Qin

This is perfect. If I must withdraw every hand gesture in my previous life under this cold weight, if I must repeat every word that I’ve spoken, every laugh, in this timeless space, just as I promise to—that I will withdraw every footprint I left in my previous life—but there’s no need. This is perfect.

This is great. No more “time.” No more words. Shadows are touchable water weeds. This path is no longer a path. Wild mustard green and burdock. This is already the roof ridge. “Between Indian strawberry and Aaron’s Beard.” Wonderful. Pushing aside the weight and coldness of the moonlight, I withdraw my footprints. Footprints return to themselves….

 Tonight in the midst of existing without ‘‘time’’ and words I come to the tree-shaded path where we used to see each other off many times. (“Is my old friend coming tonight?”) Tonight is my old friend coming? I pace back and forth. When the Milky Way slants to the east, I vaguely sense time rising in my substanceless body: a new-born child proclaims by crying—the rooster has crowed. And I know only too well—that when it comes to those footprints, I have already overdrawn.