laoseng 老僧

Debris and Gleam of the Night Sky (Selected Translations)
《夜空里的破烂和光束》选译

1. Sky In the Night 《夜空》

In the beginning, she was hanging on the sky, or it can be said
mounted. On her left there was a white porcelain dipper,
and on the right, an bow and arrow. An hour later, she started
to fly. Originated from some revelation, the night sky
becoming narrower and narrower, more and more difficult to hold on.
She kept the dipper close to her chest, prayed the star would
light up the night sky; with the bow and arrow in her grip,
She had her eyes wide open, watching around on guard.

2. Gleam 《光束》

On the sixth night there was a wink, you seems had some
insight on to something. With your hands twisted, looking down
at your own bare foot, you then felt somewhat embarrassed,
showed a smile as an apology. From that night on, you entered
your maturity, a capable and experienced woman, neat at whatever
you say, whatever you do. But from time to time came the surprise,
you like to eat ants the most. Trekked through every trails
around Handan in search for some plant leaves which could the cure
for your epilepsy. As a matter of fact, there was no need at all
for you to walk. Many people said, you are the light, brighter
than the light; you are the electricity, more attractive
than the electricity. All you have to do is to say the word,
only one word, then you would be takenas gleam by many holding in arms.

3. That Thing Happened In the Past 《旧事》

Is that all because I am a rattlesnake? The green grass filled up
my dream. Think again, the stinking ditches through which
we had roamed for hundred times, are they still there running
noisily by the foot of southern hill. They were not creeks,
they were stinking ditches satiated with rotten malodor.
It was there, we had the season when our youth and love
were rising and falling over those stinking ditches.
So many years had gone by, when we look up, we can see,
those rattlesnakes running around all over the starry sky,
those stinking ditches with the whiteness of fish belly, still
being decorated with the Dipper.

Translated by Laoha (X. M. Li)on 2/1/2005