Spring Memories
-Reading Huang Ke, a book by Zhang Zao

Brother Huang Ke: “We’ve done same drinking, you and me
Into the quiet of night, and we’re copying it this moment.”

Reading further, I opened an older history book:

Yuan Yishan: in August Bingzhou , seeing wild geese flying south
Han Donglang: in the new cold of year, sleeping into daylight

Dai Wangshu: just recovered, arising for a new orange, removing his old coat in deep autumn
Xu Zhimo: gently crossing through the curtain, and disappearing like a swallow

At this moment, we were awake, chatting, and drinking …

Who is it but me, the man sick with alcohol in the chilly spring?
Who is it but you, the man sitting dry in the fat spring?

The quivering morning sun shining over illusory Beijing !
I took the early bus to give lessons, drinking up a bottle of orange juice.

February 3, 2014
Chinese text by Bai Hua

June 10, 2018
Translated into English by Li Fukang


春天之憶
——早春讀《黃珂》，想起張棗。

黃珂兄：“這靜夜，這對飲，我們仿佛
曾經(jīng)有過，此刻，我們只是在臨摹從前?！?br>
讀下去，我就打開了一本更老的歷史書：

元遺山，八月并州，大雁南飛
韓冬郎，已涼天氣，白晝?nèi)朊?br>
戴望舒呢，病起嘗新橘，秋深換舊裳
徐志摩輕輕地，似一只燕子穿簾而去

此刻，我們醒著，說著，補(bǔ)飲著……

那寒春病酒的人，不是我，是誰？
那濃春枯坐的人，不是你，是誰？

晨曦，剪剪風(fēng)兒惻惻冷，幻覺北京！
我乘早班車去上課，一口氣喝完一瓶橙汁。


2014-2-3