选自《诗刊》
Carpenters
by Qi Yuqin
Axe in hand, the carpenter still needs a fighter’s resolve and strength.This wood has weathered time and storms, aromatized,waiting for a blow to crack open.This ninety-nine-year-old Xylosma tree was fallen last month,sawn into pieces, chopped into squares, and planed into orbs.With a steady hand, the big old tree is sanded into drumsticks.The carpenter learned everything from his master about woodcraft.Every piece is custom-made, either a square dinner table for eightor a mandarin desk. Even his renowned round stools were never made frivolously.In Longbeiling, three of the four carpenters have a surname related to trees— Lacquer tree, Plum tree, and Poplar, then there is Mr. Willowwith a crooked neck, who killed so many trees, but planted even more seedlings.A village girl is married off, leaving home in the fog, passing by the oak tree one last time,in her dowry is a musky sandalwood chest, perfectly joined and smoothed,a young carpenter’s single best masterpiece so far.I go back centuries in time for a visit, spellboundby the fresh engraving on the tables and chairs, lost in their aromas,speechless until jagged suddenly by a splinter at a dovetail joint.
漆宇勤，1981年11月生，中国作家协会会员，鲁迅文学院第34届高研班结业，参加第35届青春诗会。在《诗刊》《星星》《青年文学》《北京文学》《人民日报》等各类刊物发表诗歌散文习作1300余篇次。出版个人作品集《靠山而居》《另起一行》《无法拒绝》《放鹅少年》《抵达》等16部。
Translated by Duck Yard Lyricists
Duck Yard Lyricists is a group of devoted poetry lovers: Meifu Wang, Michael Soper, & Guy Hibbert.
本诗由 PATHSHARERS BOOKS（美国同道出版社）
Duck Yard Lyriists 翻译
