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Grandmother’s last clothing is a reed mat
her coffin a small fishing boat
The year was 1960
She stole a kilo of yellow beans
Those who ordered her to kneel on snail shells
are mostly dead
Those still alive
are also old
Some are tending shops
some sleep
or herd ducks
Translation of “Yi jiu liu ling nian ji shi. ” Copyright Yang Jian. By arrangement with the author. Translation copyright 2011 by Fiona Sze-Lorrain. All rights reserved.
Grandmother’s last clothing is a reed mat
her coffin a small fishing boat
The year was 1960
She stole a kilo of yellow beans
Those who ordered her to kneel on snail shells
are mostly dead
Those still alive
are also old
Some are tending shops
some sleep
or herd ducks
Translation of “Yi jiu liu ling nian ji shi. ” Copyright Yang Jian. By arrangement with the author. Translation copyright 2011 by Fiona Sze-Lorrain. All rights reserved.
一张芦席是奶奶的最后一件衣服，
一条小渔船是奶奶的棺材。
那是1960年，
奶奶偷了两斤黄豆。
那些命令我奶奶跪螺丝壳的人，
大部分都死了。
活着的
也老了。
有的在开小店，
有的在打瞌睡，
有的，在放鸭子……
