Coal’s Reply by Ai Qing ~ 艾青 《煤的对话》 with English Translations

作品原文

艾青 《煤的对话》

你住在哪里？

我住在万年的深山里
我住在万年的岩石里

你的年纪——

我的年纪比山的更大
比岩石的更大

你从什么时候沉默的？

从恐龙统治了森林的年代
从地壳第一次震动的年代

你已死在过深的怨愤里了么？

死？不，不，我还活着——
请给我以火，给我以火！

英文译文

Coal’s Reply
Ai Qing

Where do you live?

I live in ten thousand years of steep mountain
I live in ten thousand years of crag-rock

And your age?

My age is greater than the mountain’s
Greater than the crag-rock’s

How long have you been silenced?
Since the dinosaurs governed the earth
Since the earth felt its first tremor

Have you perished in this deep rancor and bitterness?

Death? No, no, I’m still alive
Please, give me a light, give me a light