Jian Feng – Waiting for a Fish…

J Feng LE P&W Eng-Chin Jan 2023 copy

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Live Encounters Poetry & Writing English-Chinese Edition January 2023

Waiting for a Fish…, poems by Jian Feng.


Waiting for a Fish to Approach Slowly

I like things with horns
A fish, for example, with horns
Can cut through chill and ice
To come closer to me

I’m waiting — the longer I wait
The more interesting it seems, so I take my time
I’m not a fish nor have horns
I cannot penetrate a winter

Facing the blank paper, I daydream…
On a paper, I can have all that I had in my dreams:
Old friends, grant landscapes, a warm fireplace on snowy nights
intoxicated no matter drinking or not

I am waiting for my imaginary fish
Waiting for a river rippling with glimmering light


等一条鱼慢慢靠近

我喜欢有犄角的事物
比如一条鱼,有了犄角就能
穿透寒冷和冰层
靠近我

我在等,越是漫长
越是等得饶有兴味,慢慢来
我不是鱼也没有犄角
我穿不透一个冬

我面对白纸假想
梦里有的纸上也能得来
山河故人风雪夜红泥小火炉
饮和不饮都醉

我在等一条虚拟的鱼
等一条河泛着波光


After a Heavy Snow

We don’t need to rush out
Like a mad one, singing praises with open arms
We can stand quietly by the window
As if the snow never descends

Contrasted with the hustle and bustle
We have to get used to living without noise
We are caring/ we are sweet/we are overflowing with happiness
Alone, we peel off colorful candy wrappers
Slowly licking them

It’s too lengthy, not just the winter
So is life, so is marriage… snowfall is but a fleeting moment
We live the same old days
Nothing left to say, as if losing our mother tongues

Occasionally, on a whim, out of the blue
This blanket of whiteness is like a pure page
Giving us unlimited possibilities
Yet deeper despair


大雪纷飞过后

我们不一定非要奔跑出去
伸开双臂唱赞美的歌,像个神经病
我们可以安静的独立窗前
像大雪不曾来临

相比于纷纷扬扬的喧嚣
我们要习惯不动声色地活着
我们爱人我们甜美我们幸福得爆棚
独自剥开斑斓的糖纸
慢慢地舔

太漫长了,不只是冬天
人生也是婚姻也是,大雪不过是稍纵即逝
我们过着千篇一律的日子
却无话可说,像个失语者

偶尔心血来潮,突发奇想
这铺天盖地的白宛如一页纯色的纸
给了我们无限的可能性
和更深的绝望


English translation © Anna Yin/© Jian Feng

简枫,河北省秦皇岛市人。语文高级教师,河北省作家协会会员。作品散见于《散文》、《当代人》、《厦门文学》、《野草》、《牡丹》、《草原》、《诗选刊》等文学期刊。

Jian Feng is a senior teacher of Chinese language and a member of the Hebei Writers’ Association. Her work has appeared in several literary journals in Chinese. She lives in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province in China.

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