Four Etudes

Four Etudes translated from the Chinese by the author i. these water willows' color Linda, do you like itthese water willowsthese water willows' color Linda, this is a swollen streamthis is spring, some little swirlsLinda, if you use young bamboo to fishtoo tender, too short, and there are no fish The stream runs so swiftI shall not wade, Lindado not weep silently Don't, don't, Lindaif you like, thencarve your words on green boughs When winter comes, in the fire grateflames shall read attentively Yes, when winter comessnow shall fallsnow shall cover our eyelidsour footprintswe shall gaze no more These water willowsleaves fallen on ice [End Page 168] Linda, do you like itthese water willowsthese water willows' color ii. snow falls so silently Snow falls so silentlysnow falls in the woodswhere sparrows won't lingerit is winter now, Linda Snow falls on your thick, thick black hairsnow is your white, white handkerchiefit falls on my shoulders, silently Your laughter is a basket of sweet chestnutsscattered by the well where I draw water every daywhen spring comes, will they sprout into new trees Snow is doing lacework on your skirt, Lindabright startwinkle in your eyes Where is my shadowfallen under your eyelashes, Lindawhy are you just standing there, not moving Quick, shape me into a plump snowmanLinda, shape you into one, too Snow is the most lovely indifference Yes, Linda, when spring comessnow shall melt usmemories shall melt toowe shall not stand, side by side, anymore Linda, when sparrows come to drink by the wellwhere shall squirrels go to pick up chestnuts [End Page 169] iii. little candles in the garden Don't light little candles in the garden, Lindadon't come looking for mecarrying your little lantern, either Lest you wake up the dreamless sunflowersand I, I am on the rooftop, under starlighttranscribing a book of scoreless music Maybe you have just been reading attentively, Lindajust let those diamonds fall, noiselessnow, isn't darkness another kind of lightmore serene, more boundless Night, if you feel cold, Lindait is like a big, big carpetwalk onto it slowly, Lindado not speak When the multicolored hustle bustle fallsinto deep, silent slumberlet the star-eaten skybe our cover iv. run barefoot, on the sand If forgetfulness is like an umbrella, Lindadon't fold up this harmonious indifference If it is in the woods, in the morningwhen cherries are green, Lindathere shall be birdsongs, always, washing down And the sun is warm, the breezes so velvetydo not fold up this harmonious indifference, Linda If forgetfulness is like an umbrellado not go launch paper boats, in the rainby the streamside where lilies clustershallow waters run wild [End Page 170] There shall be strange, tiny soundstapping your hairas you watch them twirl in the wavesand sink, one by one Nobody, not even the misty rainhas such tiny, tiny handsdon't let it tickle you, Linda If forgetfulness is like an umbrellajust let it go, with the wind When you run barefoot, on the sandthe sea, raising its thousand-fathom ecstasyis coming to you Written 1960, translated 2021 [End Page 171] Fang Xin Fang Xin 方莘 was born in 1939 in Chengdu, China, arrived in Taiwan in 1949 with his family, and settled in Taipei. As a teenager he joined an established group of avant-garde poets known as the Blue Star Poetry Society (藍星詩社). His first poetry book, Mo Bai 膜拜 / In Prostration (1963), received great acclaim in Taiwanese literary circles. Fang is currently finishing a collection of poems and translations titled Night falls so impatiently. He lives with his family in Oakland, California. Copyright © 2023 Middlebury College