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Poetry

Narratives of 1960

By Yang Jian
Translated from Chinese by Fiona Sze-Lorrain

Grandmother’s last clothing is a reed mat
her coffin a small fishing boat
The year was 1960
She stole a kilo of yellow beans
Those who ordered her to kneel on snail shells
are mostly dead
Those still alive
are also old
Some are tending shops
some sleep
or herd ducks

English Chinese (Original)

Grandmother’s last clothing is a reed mat
her coffin a small fishing boat
The year was 1960
She stole a kilo of yellow beans
Those who ordered her to kneel on snail shells
are mostly dead
Those still alive
are also old
Some are tending shops
some sleep
or herd ducks

1960年记事

一张芦席是奶奶的最后一件衣服,

一条小渔船是奶奶的棺材。

那是1960年,

奶奶偷了两斤黄豆。

那些命令我奶奶跪螺丝壳的人,

大部分都死了。

活着的

也老了。

有的在开小店,

有的在打瞌睡,

有的,在放鸭子……

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