Liaodong Tianlai: The Middle Berth

小饮译


What an awkward position
The boy on the upper berth is as light as a swallow
The old man in the lower berth sits steadily
Both of them seem extremely free and easy
And I crawled in here, like
Forcing myself into a box
Which is so cramped. I can do nothing
But lie down and suck it up
Listening to the drumming of the train
And occasionally the beating of the rain on the window
Light or heavy, real or imagined
From time to time, bright light pours into the carriage
Then suddenly darkness falls again
I’m awake amid rising and falling snores
Cutting time with wandering thoughts
About myself and the world, the way ahead
And the way home. Thinking of the end of this journey
I feel a little anxious and uneasy
And a little vaguely expectant as well

（中译英）


中铺

辽东天赖


多么尴尬的位置——
上铺的少年身轻如燕
下铺的老者坐卧安稳
都是极其自由的样子
而我是爬着进来的，像是
硬把自己塞进了一个箱子
空间逼仄，我只有在这框框里
忍着，老老实实躺下
听列车在战鼓中前行
偶尔雨点敲窗
或轻或重，或有或无
车厢内不时涌进通亮的灯火
隔一阵儿又突然陷入黑暗
我在起伏的鼾声中醒着
以胡思乱想来切削时间
想自己也想世界，想前路
也想归程，想到此次的终点时
心里有些焦灼，有些忐忑
也有些隐隐约约的期待



.

Liaodong Tianlai: The Middle Berth

小饮译


What an awkward position
The boy on the upper berth is as light as a swallow
The old man in the lower berth sits steadily
Both of them seem extremely free and easy
And I crawled in here, like
Forcing myself into a box
Which is so cramped. I can do nothing
But lie down and suck it up
Listening to the drumming of the train
And occasionally the beating of the rain on the window
Light or heavy, real or imagined
From time to time, bright light pours into the carriage
Then suddenly darkness falls again
I’m awake amid rising and falling snores
Cutting time with wandering thoughts
About myself and the world, the way ahead
And the way home. Thinking of the end of this journey
I feel a little anxious and uneasy
And a little vaguely expectant as well

（中译英）


中铺

辽东天赖


多么尴尬的位置——
上铺的少年身轻如燕
下铺的老者坐卧安稳
都是极其自由的样子
而我是爬着进来的，像是
硬把自己塞进了一个箱子
空间逼仄，我只有在这框框里
忍着，老老实实躺下
听列车在战鼓中前行
偶尔雨点敲窗
或轻或重，或有或无
车厢内不时涌进通亮的灯火
隔一阵儿又突然陷入黑暗
我在起伏的鼾声中醒着
以胡思乱想来切削时间
想自己也想世界，想前路
也想归程，想到此次的终点时
心里有些焦灼，有些忐忑
也有些隐隐约约的期待



.