Me and My Beijing
Six Poems
Laochao
Translated by Tulip
【Top Line Poet 】Laochao, whose real name is Yang Yichao, born in 1962, Chaohu, Anhui Province, now lives in Beijing. He is a member of Academic Committee of China Poetry School Net. His published poetry anthology includes “Prevailing Earth", Laochao’s Selected Poems ",“Nest Era." The works were selected for “Intermediate Generation Complete Poems ", “5 Years Anthology in New Century", “Beijing University Annual Selected Poetry Volume "and other etc.
没有遥控器帮我们关掉这一场雨
北京又在下雨。黑了天
一付江南的嘴脸。没了白墙青瓦
雨，携带病情，活过来的细菌
从门窗，一些缝，甚至空调风里
打湿床，灯，和盗版盘
我们现在说床单上的斑点不是汗
泪和爱液。是雨在发芽
灯下，琐碎的死，类似粮食里
飞出的几秒钟。比灰尘还轻
电视上，我们看不到太阳的下落
没有遥控器帮我们关掉这一场雨
No Remote Switch Off The Rain For Us
It’s raining again in Beijing. It gets dark
The countenance of south of Yangtze River
No white walls and gray tiles
The rain, carrying the disease, the bacteria alive
From doors and windows, some cracks, even air conditioning wind
Wets beds, lamps, and pirated discs
Now we say that the spots on the sheets are neither sweat
Nor tears nor love fluid. It is such rain that is germinating
Under lamp, trivial death, similar to a few seconds
That flied from grain. It’s lighter than dust
On television, we cannot see the fall of the sun
No Remote switch off the rain for us
圆明园
第一眼见到它是14年前
当时还没被修缮的那一部分
让我流泪，还哭出了声
从那以后我再没去看过它
第一眼有可能就是最后一眼
不是怕再哭一次
到底怕什么？天知道
只记得当年的哭泣形状具体
Old Summer Palace
The first time when I saw it was 14 years ago
The part of remained unrepaired there
Made my tears run down and I cried
Since then, I have not be there to see it
That first glance is probably the last one
Not afraid of cry once more
What did I fear on earth? God knows
I just remember the specific shape of my weep at that moment
I have been in Beijing for 14 years, I can’t
Remember how many times I passed by
I no need to remind it either
It’s that one time to pass it became a smaller
Today in my eyes it is
Getting a smaller open space in the capital
That can’t make big deal
What happened there I used to say
Perhaps might not be too big
人民大会堂
从人民把它盖好那天起
每年春天，管理人民的人们
都在这里开会
为人民当家作主
近年来，一些单位和个人
乐意花钱租它的一小块地方
开会，搞一些活动
他们当然不是吃饱了撑的
The People’s Great Hall
From the date of its completion by the people
In every spring the persons who administer people
Gather here to hold meetings
To be as the master for the people
In recent years, some units and individuals
Are willing to rent a small part of the hall
To have meetings, holding activities
Of course they are not because of enough food at throat
八宝山
有三年，我住在它对面的
永乐小区。对来找我的朋友们
我说：坐地铁，八宝山下
有胆小的就不敢来了
我说，那里埋的都是些大人物
都被盖棺定论为好人的
他们活着的时候都了不起
我胆小的朋友说：可是
死了后他们一样都是鬼啊
Babaoshan
For three years, I have lived in the opposite of
Yongle District. Friends come to me
I said, take subway under Babaoshan
Being of timid some ones do not dare to come
I said, there were buried some VIP
And they are coffined as good men
When alive they are great
One of my timid friends said, but
After dead, they are still same as Ghosts
You can’t say that the people inside it are not well cultured
At least they have many years education
Less are the intellectuals
Liu Chun for example in a winter
He quit the Phoenix TV
Xiaochui as another one
Because the truth he couldn’t really say
He got melancholia
Imaging of jump-suicide
I’ve been engaged in odd job for a few years
For "Art Star Sky"
That belongs to Special Subject on Cultural Column. Making culture
More culture work I do, less being of well cultured
One who wants sex, makes love
While regards sex as his love
(Published in Chinese Poetry School - Forum - original poets, 2012-5-30 14:00)
Laochao’s poems as the character of himself, are frank, powerful and comprehensive. This group of poems represents his poetry characteristics. In the view of blind eye to the place, such as Tiananmen Square, the People’s Great Hall, he realizes something that common people can’t see or out of their understanding. They are poetry, but not just in the poetry. The point is originated from his higher and deeper perspectives. Equally noteworthy is the height and depth of his poems, manifested in straightforward language as if competent weight lifting.
Many people know something about Laochao just from his directing experience and scandal. I would like to draw the attention of Laochao’s Poetry that is more brilliant legends.