In the Boulevard

By Cheng Lie

July was wrinkled and slipping elsewhere, in city south
filled a nameless neighbourhood where I blew a whistle;
some guess is nothingness in the dim light
I suspect that secrecy of circular road has been lost,
but I know a voice with its identity all the time
- this kinds of thing is impermanence.
Among dwellings surrounded by woods
porch is in a hidden place in the grey apartment,
before night poor comes to be disclosed
I arrive at the corner of garden
and pick up petals falling slopingly
Rose is evidence of the time being without outlines
makes a partition for young couples on loungers
who swinging smoothly like a pendulum--
stop it! stop it! fortune-teller crosses the slate,
the night mastered all the foreboding of netherworld
After I die, I will find the answer and enjoy a serenity
to get everything, to squander everything
where south wind promises
only one thing left -
roads, it's basically no different.

2002/ translated by Chen Zihong

沿着林荫的道路

程烈                       

七月就在别处打皱低声滑过
填满城南一声口哨前穿过的无名街区，
某个猜测在暗淡的光线中虚无
疑心已经失去循环的道路的隐秘，
但我知道有一种声音保持同一
——它的含义就是无常。
沿着林荫环护的栖所
门廊在灰色公寓不起眼的一处，
在夜的贫乏显露以前
我来到花园的拐角
掬起斜着飘落的花瓣，
蔷薇是这个没有轮廓的时间证据
掩映着躺椅上青年男女，
像时钟平稳地摆动——
停止！停止！占卜的术士越过石板
黑夜掌握了幽冥所有的预感
当我死去，也会找出答案并享有宁静
在南风允诺的地方，
得到过一切，又挥霍掉一切
留下的唯有一样
道路，基本但决无二致。

  2002年