Tan Chee Lay 陈志锐 (b. 1973)

SELECTED POEMS

这个世界适合我们

因为修路工人头上仍有鸟雀啼唱高亢为生计而忙
因为机车烟雾下仍有氧气清气豪气浩然正气
因为霓虹灯光外仍有星光月光日光普照佛光
因为立法院除了吵声仍有心声洁身修身正义之声
因为教室里除了困惑迷惑疑惑
更有不惑解惑去千年惑
因为寝室中除了丢书撕书抄书
更有看书念书写书不服输
因为家里除了埋怨不如愿
更有无悔无怨任劳任怨
因为这世界除了我们的我们、你们的我们、他们的我们
还有我们的你们、我们的他们，更有人们的人们

因为与其要世界适应我们
不如去造一个我们适应的
世界

by Tan Chee Lay 陈志锐
from The Selected Poems of Tan Chee Lay (1999)

This World Suits Us

Because above the road builders birds still crow and sing as they struggle to make a living
Because beneath the car fumes there is oxygen, clean air, a breath of heroism, and a vast breath of righteousness 
Because beyond the neon lights there is still light of the stars, the moon, the sun, and the light of the Buddha 
Because beside the noise of Parliament, there remains a voice of cleansing, righteousness, and justice
Because beside the confusion, uncertainty, and doubt in a classroom,
Beyond there is also the absence of confusion, uncertainty, and doubt 
Because beside the tossing, tearing, and copying of books in a hostel,
Beyond there is also reading, studying, and persistence
Because besides the complaints and reluctance in a home
Beyond there are also no regrets, no complaints, no complaints
Because in this world there is nothing else but we who belong to ourselves, you who belong to ourselves, they who belong to ourselves,
There is also the we who belong to you, the we who belong to them, and the people who belong to the people,

Because instead of having the world adapt to us
We should create the kind of world
To which we must adapt

by Tan Chee Lay 陈志锐
translated from the Chinese by Jonathan Chan
from The Selected Poems of Tan Chee Lay (1999)

 

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