The dragon's lair

A personal collection of verse

Declaration

Bei Dao


Perhaps the final hour is come
I have left no testament
Only a pen, for my mother
I am no hero
In an age without heroes
I just want to be a man

The still horizon
Divides the ranks of the living and the dead
I can only choose the sky
I will not kneel on the ground
Allowing the executioners to look tall
The better to obstruct the wind of freedom

From star-like bullet holes shall flow
A blood-red dawn

translated by: Bonnie S. McDougall

宣告

北岛


也许最后的时刻到了
我没有留下遗嘱
只留下笔,给我的母亲
我并不是英雄
在没有英雄的年代里
我只想做一个人

宁静的地平线
分开了生者和死者的行列
我只能选择天空
决不跪在地上
以显出刽子手们的高大
好阻挡自由的风

从星星的弹孔里
将流出血红的黎明