The Golden Scepter

by Chen Xiuyuan

Memory plowed through vast plains, crisscrossing furrows
irrigating spring flowers in bloom like palm prints
The immortals fly to a faraway land, a golden scepter shines
like a comet sweeping across starry night. Fish and bird-shaped
originally things-in-themselves, beautifully carved
That arrow, hitting the bull's eye of the cosmos
The surrender of the mob, the very moment
The altar erecting, music deafeningly loud
We are for prostrating ourselves, singing praise as grass
The gold color hurts the gloomy light. Tribes from afar
negotiating at midnight to come to pay homage. The immortals retired
Golden Scepter cannot be folded, buried in the earth
Memories thus take root. Sunlightsplitting land
the golden scepter, regathers the disorganized crowd.

                              translated by Chen Zihong

金  杖

陈修元

记忆犁过平原，如沟渠纵横
浇灌春花，掌纹一样盛开
神展翅远飞，金杖光芒闪耀
如彗星扫过夜空。鱼纹，鸟形
本是自在之物，刻饰精美
那支箭，直射宇宙靶心
人群归顺，从那一刻开始
祭台高耸，乐音响亮
我们愿意匍匐，愿意小草般歌唱
金色，刺痛阴暗的光线。远方的部落
夜半商议来朝。神退隐
金杖无法折叠，埋入地下
记忆由此植根。天光剖开厚土
金杖，让涣散的人群重新积聚