A sudden blackout convinces me

突然停電，使我確信

this is a developing country

我生活在一個發展中國家

where people read by moonlight,

where the imperial examinations have been abolished.

一個有人在月光下讀書的國家

一個廢除了科舉考試的國家

A sudden blackout brings me

from somewhere overhead

突然停電，使我聽見

the tinkle of windchimes,

小樓上的風鈴聲、貓的腳步聲

the footfalls of a cat.

遠方轉動的馬達戛然而止

In the distance,

身邊的電池收音機還在歌唱

a grumbling motor stumbles into silence,

at my side, the battery radio

只要一停電，時間便迅速回轉：

sings on.

小飯鋪裏點起了蠟燭

When the power’s off

那吞吃著烏鴉肉的胖子發現

time leaps backward—

樹杈上的烏鴉越聚越多

small restaurants light their white candles.

而眼前這一片漆黑呀

The fat man gobbling crow

多像海水澎湃的子宮

sees more and more crows

gather on the branches.

一位母親把自己吊上房梁

每一個房間都有其特殊的氣味

Such deep darkness,

the surge of the black sea’s womb.

停電。我摸到一隻拖鞋

但我叨念著：「火柴，別藏了！」

A mother hangs from the rafter,

her own scent filling every room.

在燭光裏，我看到自己

巨大、無言的影子投映在牆上

Blackout. I grope and find a slipper,

murmuring “Match! Don’t hide!”

In candlelight, I see my shadow

huge, speechless, cast upon the wall.