© Steven Schroeder
translation © 王浩 、李森

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1

I come to China to learn
to walk away. Gray
kitten on a branch beyond my reach
cries, and I cannot coax him down.
He knows there is nothing

I can do, so I walk on, and he falls
silent. I'd like to think he found
some comfort in my voice
responding to his cry,
but he is still

treed, and I have done nothing.
The world is no less dangerous
for my words. He will tell his story,
put his feet on the ground
when he sees the time is right.

1

我来中国学习
走开。灰色的
小猫在我够不着的树枝上
叫着,我不能哄它下来
它知道我无所事事

我走了,它安静
下来。我宁愿认为它
在我回应的声音里
得到一点安慰,
但它仍然

躲在树上,我还是无事可做。
面对我的词藻,世界
没有减少丝毫危险
小猫,会讲自己的故事
把脚踩在地上
当那个合适的时刻到来。