Creating Something out of Nothing

By Bai Hua

Their lessons are many and various, but only one life.
Hey, "Dharma from west, that's a windless storm."...
At year-end, wish you well. To imitate Wang Xizhi just
for bookkeeping, for book-copying, even letter writting...

Self-immolation of Viet monk , harakiri of Mishima
In high school, my signature was Napoleon Hoo!
The way Water has, the way Fire has and also earth has---
Metal chops Wood. Tactful man would be, woman tyrannical...

Warts from childhood replaced by acne.
What the replacement of depression? Poem-eater! Combien? Two!
One in the library, a poet Mark Strand
One in front of lamp somewhere, a news guy Tang Buyu.

                Feb. 8, 2016/ translated by Chen Zihong

诗人简介：柏桦（1956-）中国当代著名诗人，西南交通大学艺术与传播学院教授。代表作《表达》、《往事》。

本诗英文译文及所附中文原诗已获作者授权，未经原作者和译者许可，谢绝任何转载及用于任何商业用途。

无中生有

功课五花八门，生活只有一门
嗨，“达摩西来是无风起浪”……
岁暮，望珍摄，习王羲之法帖
为记账、为抄书，更为了写信……

越南僧烧身，三岛由纪夫杀身
中学时代，我署名拿破仑·胡！
水有道，火有道，土中亦有道——
金克木，男子婉转，女子强横……

童年疣子被青春痘取代，
苦闷被什么取代？吃诗人！多少？两个！
一个在图书馆，马克·斯特兰德
一个在某州灯下，报人唐不遇。

                                 2016-2-8