Sidetracks V
By Bei Dao
Translated by Jeffrey Yang
the eyes of the daughters and sons of the river are shining
wilderness dazzling sunlight polishes the surface of the lake
remembrances and bullets share this century
mail trucks tumble along into the hour of lamplight
prisoners dance in concentric circles of moonlight
anxious stones pile up into mountains
assault troops storm through the gates of the city’s memories
tightening the toy’s rusted mechanism
licking the wounds of first love sprinkle a little salt
let the two crickets fight in the innermost heart
fruit pit spit out the secret of birth
erase the comet tail on the blackboard
the eyes of a cat chase after the festival of flowing water
I ride the wooden horse of a carousel lost in thought
windmills churn thick clouds in the sky
more people join the refugees’ routes
their languages create countless colors
arise from the masks in the museum of humankind
cooking smoke blends the hues of the blue twilight
a priest prays in the shadow of a candle flame
God lashes the city with lightning
O wanderer of the worn world
folded within time along the horizon
forest trees breathe thoughts
dropped into a mailbox in an unfamiliar town
the shadow of death takes flight on the road
a perfect plate handcrafted artistry
breaks free at last from the essence of things
waking up in the garret of the small hotel
curtains flutter clear skies turn to clouds
in the oil painting of the harbor no sails
below the castle the din of the world
surrounded by light and flags
on the back of a picture postcard
Chinese characters are the first informant
northward leads to a solitary pass
how long is the tape reel of the deep night
measuring the variable weather maps
lovers climb through the balcony window
on the table the fruit is ripening
joining the ranks of insomniacs—
winter flashes a smile
let the hand crutch of logic bloom
no detour around the season of wheat
don’t bring along the baggage of a disquiet heart
more deranged than a paperweight riding the waves
history like the confessions of a suffering patient
paces of light cross through the forest
to a place more distant than thought
in a dream berries are screaming
bidding farewell to the end of homesickness is morning
finding the truth of the keyhole
Translated from the Chinese
