A MAN CHOPPING FIREWOOD FOR THE WINTER

A man chopping firewood for the winter

Could bring greater vitality to the winter

Than a ray of faint sunshine

A man chopping firewood for the winter

His hands are powerful and accurate

He stirs, even shocks me to get into things

And a severe winter is coming

A man chopping firewood for the winter

More composed and dedicated than the winter

Above his shoulder

--A single blow of an axe, more than a revolution

Could put a stop

To my writing

I raise my eyes and watch him stand straight

Then turn around to leave

Thinking: he could get through more than just winter

(1989) (Tr. by Hai An & Denis Mair)

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Wang Jiaxin (1957- ), born in Hubei, now lives in Beijing. He has published several books of poetry including Commcmoration, Stairs, Moving Cliff, Poems of Wang Jia Xin, and books on poetics including When People Meet with World, Nightingale in its Own Times, Poetry Without Hero, Via Stockholm. In Search of a Placc for the Phoenix to Perch: Essays on Modern Poetry,etc.

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