棋‖Board

吃饭如棋，各管各

It’s been thousands of years since it all began, 

都已经几千年的事儿了， 

yet some still drive stones, branches,  还有人驱使石子、树杆 

and rubber, charging left and right, 

和橡胶，左冲右突， 

waging slaughter on the border of Chu and Han. 

在楚汉边界杀戮一场 

At the newsstand on Liyu Road.

报亭看棋人

在李渔路报亭 

the retired gather like lingering spirits,

退休人阳魄聚集 

For the thrill of that final move, 

为了最后一子的淋漓尽致 

they turn morning into a battle of positions, 

把上午安排成阵地战 

and afternoon into a scene of mixed forces

把下午落子到你中有我 

you in me, me in you. 

我中有你，混搭的场面 

Those watching shout commands; 

看棋的人，发出指令 

those playing tug soldiers and cannons, 

下棋的人，拉着兵卒 

horses and chariots—no changing paths now，

马炮車，不改变路线 

When chariots and horses rust into cuneiform script.

当車马锈蚀成楔形文字 

someone still takes a branch 

仍有人用树杆 

and scratches new borders 

在水泥地上 

across the concrete ground. 

刮出新的国境线