A Sleeping Tree In The Lake

A Sleeping Tree In The Lake

For a long time
I stare at your slim and white* body
of a tree
which is sleeping deeply
on the bottom of the plateau lake.
The mysterious blue lake water 
is so ice-cold that
keeps your beauty completely;
the sunlight filtering through the water
makes you a little dreamy.

Your negligent figure 
stretches in the clear water freely.
Neither the lithe waterweeds
nor the smart small fishes
can awaken you a little.
The gravel on your side always
guards your secret in a mute way.

In the solitary mountains,
the wild flowers are luxuriant
and the woods are lush.
The twittering of birds is heard occasionally
far or near.
while the protean clouds shadow into the lake.
The starlight from millions of years ago
is twinkling.
After the autumn tints are splendid,
the pure white snow frozen over the lake
brings everything back to the silence.

Your voice seems to be heard sometimes
in the quiet nights.
Your somniloquy- like song raises
from the deep bottom of the lake,
as a slight smoke lingers
over the lake and 
echoed in 
my rippling heart. 

How many generations have you been staying 
in this chilly and lonely place peacefully?
I ask both you and myself / dumbly.
Away from millions of miles,
I stare at your lying figure 
which is on the bottom of the lake
for a long time
like staring at my own
deeply sleeping soul.

Min Katherine Liu
Virginia Tech
WVArts Solitude
Spring 2016



* Tree trunk becomes white in lake water because it has calcified for centuries.

2016年4月29日


沉睡湖底的树

我长久地凝望着你

颀长而洁白*的

树的身体，
沉睡在高原的湖底。
幽蓝的湖水冰彻，
留存住你美丽；
穿透其间的阳光，
为你增添几许迷离。

你恣意的身姿，

舒展在澄澈的水里。

任那优柔的水草

或灵动的小鱼，

都无法将你唤醒。

而长伴身旁的砾石，

以沉默守护你的秘密。


这空山，
野花烂漫，林木葱郁。
偶有鸟语，忽远又忽近。
云影变幻着投入湖心，

千万年前的星辉闪烁不定。
秋色绚烂至极后，
皑皑的白雪封冻湖面，
一切归于沉寂。


似乎也听见你声音，
在寂静的夜里。
梦吟般的歌唱
从幽深的湖底升起，
如一缕轻烟
在湖面缠绵不去，
也回响在
我微澜的心里。


不知在那清冷之处
你已安度几世光阴？
我默默地问你,也问自己。
隔着千万里，
我长久地凝望着
你静卧湖底的身影，
象凝望着自己
沉睡的魂灵。


*树干在水中因长年的钙化而变白