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.