Death Poem 2

by Haizi, translated by me

You, the girl I can see
the girl in water
please come to the wheat field
and put away my bones
into a bouquet of reed-flowers
put it into a box and take it home

You, the clean girl, the river girl
the girl I can see
please touch your hands on the wheat field

When I've lost my hope
of riding on my wheat back home
please tidy up my messy bones
and put them into a little wooden box and take them back
like you take back your rich bridal dowry

but please don't tell that woman
who is hanging clothes by the hay now, proped against the wood
-- my mother



死亡之诗(之二)


——海子

我所能看见的少女
水中的少女
请在麦地之中
清理好我的骨头
如一束芦花的骨头
把他装在箱子里带回



我所能看见的
洁净的少女, 河流上的少女
请把手伸到麦地之中



当我没有希望坐在一束
麦子上回家
请整理好我那凌乱的骨头
放入一个小木柜。带回它
象带回你们富裕的嫁妆



但是, 不要告诉我
扶着木头, 正在干草上晾衣的
母亲。