【双语天地】曾国涛:我们的恋爱日记(组诗)翻译:霍聪瑶

我们的恋爱日记

（组诗）

作者：曾国涛

1. 春风里的恶作剧

三月风把你花衬衫吹成旗

我扯着线头追那只断线风筝

你跑丢的鞋陷在油菜地里

踩着我的脚印说找到了

桃树杈挂着半截红头绳

你踮脚够时我扶住腰

飘下来的花瓣落进脖颈

痒得我俩笑弯了田埂

2. 酸掉牙的青杏与尖叫

你鼓囊囊的裤兜叮当响

掏出来是偷摘的青杏

咬一口酸得皱成核桃脸

却往我嘴里塞最大那颗梗

渠水映着碎成花片的蓝天

你踩水花溅湿了我裤管

苇丛中窜出了绿翅鸭

把我们的尖叫叼到云上面

3. 夏日胎记

汗流浃背的七月午后

你抱着西瓜从巷口跑来

切开的红瓤有两副面孔

我抢到的那块籽特别少

电扇摇头晃脑说闲话

你脚丫搭在我的凉席边

蚊子叮了小腿的血污包

你画成花瓣说是夏天的胎记

4. 屋檐下湿漉漉的吻

雨季漫长如你湿漉漉的吻

我们躲在屋檐下数雨线

你指着漏雨的铁皮棚说

那是老天爷在敲木鱼

积水泡胀了掉落的桐花

你光着脚丫踩出八脚章鱼

突然打雷你钻进我怀里

头发上有股青草洗发水味

5. 纸飞机与鸡蛋糕

办公楼红墙上爬满爬山虎

你在三楼窗口晾花手绢

我吹口哨学布谷鸟叫

你扔下来的纸飞机栽进冬青丛

下班铃响过了三次

你磨蹭着擦五遍办公桌

最后出来时塞给我

半块用花纸包着的鸡蛋糕

6. 赔给夕阳的鱼币

溪水拐弯的地方

你非要踩石头过河

我背你走到中间腿打颤

你揪着我耳朵喊驾驾

水底游鱼啄你的倒影

你踢掉的两只鞋顺水漂

追鞋时踩碎了满溪夕阳

你笑出眼泪说是赔给鱼的金币

7. 被云彩收走的钥匙

玉兰花开那周

你每天捡花瓣夹我书里

第七天时，书厚得合不上

掉出来的都是压扁的日子

树下的石凳还留着屁股印

你画的两颗心被雨水冲淡

我说再画个带锁的

你咬着树枝说：钥匙扔进云彩里

8. 会生根的草戒指

芦苇抽出了第一支笔

你蘸着晚霞在河面写信

写完读给游过的野鸭听

她们点头时你说是懂了

我用狗尾巴草编戒指

套在你无名指上黄黄的汁液

你说比金的还值钱

因为草戒指会生根长进肉里

9. 补月亮

你趴在浮云下面数羊

我数你眼睫毛有几根

数到二十三你突然翻身

说羊都跑进我眼睛里了

树梢挂着半个月亮

另一半在你嘴里嚼成渣

吐出来的光屑飘到天上

补圆了那个缺

10. 影子都碎了

鸦雀在电线上排五线谱

你踮脚用竹竿当指挥

惊起的黑点飞成乱码

你说这是老天爷改作业

电线杆的影子压着我们

你踩我影子头说踩扁了

我踩你影子脚你跳起来

扑进怀里说这下全碎了

11. 画错的八字与先飞的鸟

白鹳飞过麦田那天

你指着天空说像在画八字

她拐弯时你急了

拽我袖子说画错了怎么办

我们用树枝在泥地重画

画到第八遍你笑了

说笨鸟先飞的那个

早就叼着我们的八字飞走了

12. 菩萨点的灯

蛙鸣吵醒第一颗星

你光脚在田埂踩高跷

跌进水田时拽倒我

两个人变成泥菩萨

稻叶上的露珠滑进脖子

你挠我痒痒报复

滚在草垛边惊起萤火虫

你说那是菩萨点的灯

13. 种到白头的约定

桃树结小毛桃那天

你天天踮脚捏了又捏

数着日子等浓浓的糖分

结果被鸟啄了最大那颗

你追到树林深处

回来头发上粘着苍耳

兜里掏出鸟吃剩的核

说要种到咱俩白发那年

14. 淋成落水的鹌鹑

雨水打湿的黄昏

你非要接我从厂里下班

伞都倾向我这边

自己淋成落水的鹌鹑

路面积水漂着油彩

你踩出带颜色的水花

说要把我灰扑扑的日子

染成和你一样的虹

15. 笋壳船与鲸鱼的梦

竹笋钻出地面那天

你举着刨锄满山跑

我负责辨认哪根能挖

你总说我挑的都是祖宗

背篓装满了就坐在溪边

你用笋壳编小船

放走时说漂到长江去

带回来你小时候见过的鲸

16. 燕子下的谢礼

燕子衔泥补旧窝

你仰头张望忘了做饭

铁锅烧干冒青烟

你吐舌头像做错事的孩子

我端出腌好的咸菜

你说将就吃也挺香

碗底卧着荷包蛋

你说是燕子下的谢礼

17. 吓走朋友的木头人

你非要数清电线上的麻雀

数到二十三时她们全飞了

你跺脚骂她们不讲义气

我憋着笑看你生气

飞来一只落在你头顶

你僵成雕塑让我赶

我刚抬手她就飞了

你说是我吓走了你的朋友

18. 海的回声与上岸的渔网

你指着墙上苔藓说像地图

非要找咱俩住的地方

我说在绿颜色最深那角

你趴上去听说是海的回声

夜里做梦你骑骏马

海浪追着马蹄跑

惊醒时攥着我手指

说渔网把你和我捞上岸了

19. 弯月砸中了我的笑

你朝峡谷扔了块石头

回音弹回来砸中我的笑

老家的黄犬追着灰喜鹊

把屋檐的影子踩成碎糖

无花果在枝头憋着甜

我们闲坐成两粒晒太阳的芝麻

你冻红的手择着菜叶

忽然塞我嘴里——呀，是春天

20. 偷吃云朵的嘴唇

你掰开烤红薯的瞬间

香气烫伤十二月的耳朵

鼓囊囊的风筝在天空写情书

被野猫偷看了最后一行

你指着我的鼻子说花季

我往你衣领塞进整座峡谷的雪

背锅的夕阳突然滚下山坡

正好撞见我们偷吃云朵的嘴唇

21. 同一滴水的焦距

你的眼睛淹死在红色的办公楼

溪水从领口倒灌进来

瓢虫在玉兰树叶背面避雨

我们挤进同一滴水的焦距

你说花期太短我说葱茏太长

树梢挂着去年晾干的月光

芦苇在额头画出白线时

我们正用彼此的呼吸换气

22. 小心，有春天

白鹳在天空签下名字

蛙鸣把夜晚缝进游鱼的腮

你指着山水画里的桃树说

这朵云像你昨天掉的饭粒

雨水突然咬住竹笋的脖子

燕子用尾巴剪开我们的影子

灯火在苔藓上打滑

你扶住我的腰说小心——有春天

23. 相濡以沫

你说要骑着海浪去找骏马

渔网兜住整片天空的蓝

我在沙滩写你的名字

被潮水翻译成贝壳的暗语

你往我口袋塞满咸咸的风

我往你发梢系上湿漉漉的月亮

突然一个浪头扑过来

我们成了两条相濡以沫的鱼

24. 最笨的聪明

无花果把甜藏进肚子里

你说这是最笨的聪明

老家的黄犬在追自己的尾巴

转出一个叫永远的圆圈

灰喜鹊偷走我们的对话

晾在屋檐下风干成糖霜

我择着菜叶假装看云

你突然从背后抱紧我的慌张

25. 滚烫的谎

我把你冻红的手塞进衣领

冰得自己跳起来骂娘

红薯香在铁皮炉上打滚

我们分食同一团滚烫的谎

野猫蹲在墙头看笑话

小风筝断线卡在树梢

你说等花季过了再取下来

我说等取了再开花季的玩笑

26. 笑得太响

背锅的月亮被云咬了一口

你指着缺口说像我的门牙

汗流浃背的夏天躲在雨季身后

瓢虫在玉兰叶上数我们的白发

你说这棵树去年开白花

我说今年开的是你衬衫的颜色

溪水突然倒流回山上

因为听见我们笑得太响

27. 怀孕的风筝

鼓囊囊的风筝怀孕了

怀的是整个峡谷的风

你拉着线头跑成一道闪电

我追着你喊小心坑

坑里蹲着去年的雪

雪底下埋着偷吃的证据

无花果突然开口说话

吐出满嘴甜甜的籽

28. 彼此的睫毛下

你说花季到了我指着你脸上

刚冒的痘——这也算？

你追着我跑了三座山梁

最后在一棵桃树下耍赖

燕子衔来泥巴封住我们的嘴

苔藓在石头上记下这笔账

突然下起太阳雨

我们躲进彼此的睫毛下

29. 春天万岁

葱茏的树梢在举行葬礼

埋葬去年掉队的叶子

你捡起一片说像我的掌纹

我摊开手——你的也在里面

芦苇荡起白色的头纱

浮云给天空戴上黑纱

鸦涂着墨汁写悼词

我们牵着手说春天万岁

30. 交换呼吸的姿势

白鹳带回远方的口信

说桃树在山水画里开花

游鱼咬破倒影

蛙鸣在夜里练习情歌

你指着雨水说这是眼泪

我说是天空在吐籽

竹笋突然顶破地面

偷看我们交换呼吸的姿势

31. 正好下酒

你骑着我编的芦苇骏马

在沙滩上画出一条河

海浪追上来擦掉

你说没关系潮水会记住

渔网兜住落日

我们把她煮成荷包蛋

突然一个浪头打来

咸了——你说正好下酒

32. 装着晚霞的菜篮

屋檐上晾着去年的糖霜

灰喜鹊偷吃时掉了羽毛

黄犬在树下等了一下午

等到一场空欢喜

无花果憋了一肚子甜话

开口时却结结巴巴

你择着菜叶笑出声

菜篮里装着整片晚霞

33. 抱住一团空气

野猫踩过我们晒的情书

爪印盖在落款处

你说这是天然的防伪

比签名还管用

小风筝突然从树梢挣脱

带着未写完的句子

我们追着跑过三个田埂

最后抱住一团空气

34. 挤在伞柄处接吻

汗流浃背的夏天躲进冰箱

你打开门找冰棍时

看见她抱着西瓜打滚

你说别吵——都是自家人

雨季在窗外排队

瓢虫在叶子上指挥交通

玉兰树撑开绿伞

我们挤在伞柄处接吻

35. 爱的滤镜

你的眼睛里流出一条溪水

我在里面看见自己变形

你说这是哈哈镜

我说是爱的滤镜

红色的办公楼在倒影里

变成一条搁浅的鲸鱼

我们坐在她的脊背上

钓鱼——钓彼此的谎言

36. 萤火虫的耳环

灯火在苔藓上滑倒

摔出一地碎光

你捡起一片别在我耳边

说这是萤火虫的耳环

蛙鸣突然变成情歌

游鱼在水底打拍子

白鹳飞过时落下一根羽毛

正好插进我的头发

37. 怀春的少女

桃树喝醉了雨水

在风里东倒西歪

你说她是跳广场舞的大妈

我说是怀春的少女

竹笋从土里探头

偷看我们分食同一颗桃子

燕子飞过时剪下一片云

正好擦掉你嘴角的汁

38. 数彼此脸上的雀斑

山水画里的芦苇

被风吹进现实

你指着白头发说

这是我们的老年

浮云在天上画着鸦

鸦涂着天空说脏话

我们躺在草地上

数彼此脸上的雀斑

39. 水花溅到毛衣上

你说水花认得路吗——

鸡鸭扑棱棱躲开，

黄犬追着尾巴转圈，

灰喜鹊在屋檐偷看。

无花果叶子拍手，

我择菜，你晒太阳，

冻红的手碰了碰，

水花就溅到你毛衣上。

40. 说这个更甜

红薯香缠住手指，

你剥开一个说像夕阳。

野猫在墙头打哈欠，

鼓囊囊的风筝线断了。

花季是哪天？

你咬了一口烫到舌头，

我笑你笨，你抢我的，

说这个更甜。

41. 忘了收的腊肉

你说野猫偷了腊肉，

我说是黄犬。

你追她，她跳上墙，

尾巴扫落无花果。

背锅的我蹲在溪边洗菜，

你突然从背后抱住，

说腊肉在灶台，

是忘了收。

42. 镜子反射的谎

雨季太长，屋檐长出蘑菇，

你数着第几个阴天。

我说第七个，

你说不对，第八个。

苔藓爬上台阶，

瓢虫在窗台迷路。

你突然说想晒太阳，

我指着墙上的光斑——

那是镜子反射的谎。

43. 站在泥里傻笑

红色的办公楼锁着，

我们在墙外种桃树。

你说等结了果，

就翻墙摘。

我说你疯了，

你说爱情本来就疯。

雨水打湿竹笋，

燕子衔泥，

我们站在泥里傻笑。

44. 数落地的花瓣

你的眼睛里有溪水，

我的眼睛里有鱼。

你说游来游去累不累，

我说不累，

因为有水草缠着。

蛙鸣吵醒玉兰树，

花期过了，

我们还在树下，

数落地的花瓣。

45. 摔在草堆里笑

树梢指着天空说谎，

说云是棉花糖。

你信了，踮脚够，

我笑你矮。

你说背我，

我说你背不动。

你蹲下，我跳上去，

芦苇荡里惊起白鹳，

我们摔在草堆里狂笑。

46. 填满对方的眼睛

浮云鸦涂着天空，

你说像不像画坏了。

我说像你上次煮的面，

你捶我，假装用很大的力。

山海经里有没有乌鸦？

你说有，叫精卫。

我说精卫填海，

你说那我们填满对方的眼睛。

47. 灰喜鹊偷吃了半个

白鹳站在田埂，

像你等我择菜。

鸡鸭都回窝了，

黄犬也睡了。

你说再不来就飞走，

我说飞去哪。

你说屋檐下，

无花果熟了，

灰喜鹊偷吃了半个。

48. 就在这看云吧

蛙鸣吵醒游鱼，

你说想养一条。

我说养在哪，

你说养在眼睛里。

山水画挂在墙上，

你说不如真山。

那去爬山？

你摇头说，

就在这看云吧。

49. 骗过冬天就结婚

空调吐白絮假扮雪，

你堆雪人戴我毛线帽歪斜。

冰箱结霜拓印指纹地图，

冻梨砸中脚趾惊呼跳踉跌。

暖气片哼唱走调歌谣，

热水袋烙红脚心像吻热烈。

“骗过冬天就结婚，”

你咬苹果喂我冰牙甜屑。

50. 在花季的天空试翅膀

峡谷把冬天的冷藏在肚脐眼里

鸡鸭挤成一团绒毛的疑问句

老家黄犬追着自己尾巴画圆

灰喜鹊在无花果光枝上打拍子

你闲坐晒太阳剥冻红的手

择菜叶时绿汁染了指甲

红薯香从灶孔偷跑出来

小风筝在花季的天空试翅膀

51. 假装是棵树

野猫叼走晒簟上的鱼干

汗流浃背的雨季追不上她

红色的办公楼蹲在溪边打瞌睡

瓢虫在玉兰树嫩芽上数露珠

你说花期太短我说葱茏太长

树梢的芦苇朝浮云招手

鸦涂着天空像小孩乱画

白鹳单腿站着假装是棵树

52. 空空的渔网像你张开的胳膊

蛙鸣把寂静捅了个窟窿

游鱼咬碎水面的月亮饼干

山水画挂在墙上落灰

桃树把雨水喝得肚子圆滚滚

竹笋顶开石头偷听

燕子衔泥掠过你眉毛

灯火在苔藓上写日记

我梦见自己变成骏马跑过海浪

渔网空空的像你张开的胳膊

53. 择菜叶砸我

你择菜我数你手上的纹路

冻红的手像刚出水的虾

鸡鸭围过来讨米吃

黄犬趴你脚背当暖炉

峡谷那边飘来云做的棉絮

无花果藏着夏天的秘密

红薯香勾引饿鬼的魂

我偷捏你腰你择菜叶砸我

54. 跌进刚翻过的软泥里

小风筝挣脱线跑了

花季的风把她当自己的崽

你说她去找云玩了

我说她像我离家出走的心

灰喜鹊在屋顶笑出眼泪

屋檐滴着昨夜的雨

我们追着空线轴跑

跌进刚翻过的软泥里

55. 空了又满的菜篮

闲坐门槛分一个橘子

你酸得眯眼我甜得咧嘴

黄犬抢走橘子皮当玩具

峡谷把阳光切成两半

一半晒你后背一半晒我前胸

无花果在枝头酝酿蜜

冻红的手伸进我口袋

择菜叶的篮子空了又满

56. 等你时傻乎乎

野猫蹲墙头像尊佛

汗流浃背的我们刚收完衣服

雨季说来就来说走就走

红色的办公楼亮起灯像红眼睛

溪水涨到石阶第三级

瓢虫躲在玉兰叶背面

你说野猫在等她的爱情

我说她像我等你时傻乎乎

57. 青涩的小疙瘩

玉兰花瓣落进溪水里漂

葱茏的叶子把天挤成条缝

树梢的芦苇写狂草

浮云被鸦涂成灰抹布

白鹳飞走留下空巢

蛙鸣把傍晚吵得发烫

游鱼在山水画里游累了

桃树结出青涩的小疙瘩

58. 你是肉片我是笋

雨水把泥土泡软了

竹笋冒尖像你刚冒的胡茬

我扛锄头你提篮子

苔藓滑了我一跤你笑弯了腰

燕子窝在梁上添新泥

灯火还没亮我们就回家

你说竹笋炒肉片

我说你是肉片我是笋

59. 往深处扎了扎的桃树根

骏马跑过海浪的晚上

渔网捞起星星做的鱼

我告诉你我梦见你了

你说你也是眼睛亮晶晶

峡谷的夜黑得像墨汁

蛙鸣把寂静搅得更稠

游鱼在山水画里翻了个身

桃树把根往深处扎了扎

60. 数少了几个蛋

鸡鸭认得你的脚步声

谷子撒出去像撒金豆子

黄犬吃醋拱你手心

灰喜鹊偷谷子得逞了

无花果裂开嘴笑

屋檐滴着早上的露水

我负责赶走野猫的觊觎

你负责数少了几个蛋

61. 红薯心最甜

灶膛的火舔着红薯皮

香气钻进每一条墙缝

冻红的手烤着火变暖

择菜叶的篮子在脚边空着

峡谷的冷被关在门外

鸡鸭早早就上架了

黄犬蜷成毛茸茸的句号

你说红薯心最甜给我吃

62. 秋天还未到的甜

花季的风吹了又吹

小风筝补了补丁又上天

线在手里抖得像心跳

你说怕她又跑我说跑就跑

灰喜鹊追着风筝骂

屋檐下的燕子在看戏

无花果还没熟

我们已经在想秋天的甜

63. 刚捞上来的月亮

溪水涨到门槛下

红色的办公楼倒着长

瓢虫困在玉兰叶上

葱茏的树把雨声放大

你说头发湿了像水草

我说你像刚捞上来的月亮

白鹳在远处变成逗号

我们站在屋檐下等停雨

64. 钉住这一刻的蛙鸣

你的眼睛有峡谷的水汽

我的眼睛有火烧云的痕迹

你盯着我看时我躲

我盯着你看时你低头

浮云飘过树梢

鸦涂的天空灰蒙蒙

白鹳的影子划过溪面

蛙鸣把这一刻钉住了

65. 跳回海的鱼

灯火亮起来像萤火虫排队

苔藓在墙根闪着绿光

你说骏马在海浪上跑累了

我说渔网捞起的鱼又跳回海

山水画里的桃树开花了

雨水在竹笋上打滚

燕子回巢喂崽崽

我们回屋关上门

66. 撑在我头上的雨伞

背锅的不是野猫是我

汗流浃背搬石头垒田埂

雨季把菜地冲了个口子

红色的办公楼里有人在看

你说我像落汤鸡

我说你像雨伞撑在我头上

瓢虫爬过我手背

玉兰树抖落一身水珠

67. 扶正她

花季过了桃树结果

葱茏的叶子把阳光剪碎

树梢的芦苇白了头

浮云变成雨落下来

白鹳的巢空了又满

蛙鸣变成秋天的嗓子

游鱼躲进深水区

山水画挂歪了你扶正她

68. 谷子地的海浪

渔网不是渔网是云做的梦

骏马不是骏马是风吹的浪

海浪不是海浪是谷子地

你笑我胡说八道

峡谷的风把话吹散

鸡鸭听着我们拌嘴

黄犬睡着打呼噜

无花果悄悄变紫了

69. 老了好天天黏着

明天你去溪边洗衣服

我去山上砍柴火

瓢虫会停在玉兰叶上

燕子会在屋檐下等你

苔藓会滑我摔跤

竹笋会冒尖扎脚

你说老了也这样

我说老了好天天黏着

70. 两只挤在口袋里的无花果

北风把峡谷吹成冰棍的下午

我妈在鸡窝掏出一颗热鸡蛋

塞进我冻红的手心

灶膛里红薯正剥着焦皮

老黄狗追着自己的尾巴

转着圆圈看我们

71. 搔得耳朵痒的呼吸

月亮爬上稻场那会儿

你非要数清田里几只青蛙

一只两只三只

数到第八只时她跳了

害得我们从头数起

露水打湿你的布鞋

你索性脱了踩我的脚背

凉凉的软软的

突然远处传来脚步声

手电筒的光扫过来

我们憋着笑蹲进油菜地

蛙声里

你的呼吸搔得我耳朵痒

72. 准备集合的桃花瓣

溪水拐弯的地方

你非要和鲫鱼比赛闭气

数到三十秒你浮起来

头发贴着脸

水珠挂在睫毛上

你说我看见水底有座房子

用鹅卵石砌的

门前游着小小的我们

这时一条泥鳅钻进你的裤腿

你跳起来的样子

惊散了

正准备集合的

桃花瓣

73. 刚开的苔花

去年燕子窝还空着

你在门槛上画两只鸟

歪歪扭扭的翅膀

你说一只你一只我

等她们飞走就追回来

老黄狗在脚边打喷嚏

惊醒了打盹的芦花鸡

我妈端着淘米水出来

故意泼湿你画的天空

你笑着躲进我怀里

头发蹭着我下巴

痒痒的香香的

像屋檐下

刚开的苔花

74. 再也没有逃出去的影子

黄昏把村子装进玻璃瓶

你点亮煤油灯那会儿

飞蛾扑棱着撞上窗纸

灶膛的火映红你半边脸

炒青菜的滋啦声里

你突然说：

“要是停电就好了

我们就可以一直

这么坐着”

灯花爆了一下

你的影子跳进我怀里

再也没有逃出去

75. 那年春天的蒲公英

你摘了最大的那片叶子

盖在我脸上遮太阳

叶脉的纹路印在眼皮上

像你昨晚画的藏宝图

你说等叶子黄了就去找

埋在枣树底下的铁盒子

里面有弹珠、糖纸

还有你偷偷写的

我的名字

这时候一颗熟透的无花果

正好落进你衣领

你跳起来抖落的样子

像极了那年春天的蒲公英

76. 比较密的树叶

我们爬到树杈分界线的位置

你说左边归你右边归我

你那边有麻雀窝

我这边有只斑鸠在孵蛋

突然风吹落一朵玉兰

正好掉进你张开的衣兜

你说这是界碑

谁都不许越过花香

可下雨的时候

你还是挤过来

说我的树叶比较密

77. 夏天的小裙子

丝瓜藤爬满东墙那个夏天

你非说叶子背面藏着鬼脸

我翻开一片

是你用指甲画的鬼

再翻开一片

是歪扭的“你好笨”

等翻到第十七片

突然跳出只绿螳螂

举着镰刀要签名

你吓得躲到我背后

笑着笑着

丝瓜花就开了

黄灿灿的

像你夏天的小裙子

78. 荡秋千的未说的话

最高的那根洋槐枝上

挂着我们去年的风筝

你说要爬上去取

我抱住你不让

老槐树看着我们

把影子叠在一起

突然喜鹊夫妇回来了

绕着树冠急急地飞

你在我耳边说

她们肯定以为

我们也是来抢地盘的

那些没说完的话

被风卷起来

挂在风筝线上荡秋千

79. 枕头底下的眼睛

你在河滩上画了两个小人

手牵着手

说涨水也不能冲散

我捡来贝壳嵌成眼睛

你用芦花粘成衣裳

等潮水真的漫上来时

我们慌忙去救

却只来得及

抢出那两颗

亮闪闪的眼睛

她们现在

还躺在你枕头底下

每天夜里看着我

80. 忘了留地址的天空

你躺在打谷场上数云彩

说最胖的那朵像我妈做的棉袄

瘦长的像你爸的扁担

最小的那朵

像我们的家

突然云朵散了

变成羊群变成鱼鳞

你急得坐起来

用树枝在天上画

画着画着睡着了

梦里还在嘟囔：

别跑，别跑

我还没数清呢

81. 写满了整个天

黄昏在草垛上磨墨

一群乌鸦往天上写字

你踮起脚数笔画

说第一个字是我

第二个字是你

第三个字被风吹散了

你追出去二十步

捡回一根黑羽毛

插在我耳朵上：

“这是笔

我们接着写”

写到星星出来

才发现

写满了整个天

却忘了留地址

82. 握得更紧的手

麦田刚刚翻耕那会儿

两只白鹳在远处散步

你非要学着她们走路

高抬腿轻落步

惊起一群麻雀

我说像你

你说像我

争着争着

白鹳飞起来了

翅膀底下

藏着小小的夕阳

你突然不说话了

只是把我的手

握得更紧些

83. 叫着我们名字的青蛙

月光在水田里搓着银线

你脱了鞋踩我的脚印

凉凉的软软的

你说每个脚印里

都住着一只小青蛙

等天亮就跳出来

唱我们的名字

我们走了一百步

回头数了九十九个脚印

还有一个

被你的笑声填满了

现在每到夏夜

总有只特别响亮的青蛙

整夜整夜

叫着我们的名字

84. 数云彩的鱼

溪水转弯的深潭里

鲫鱼在数落花

一朵两朵三朵

数到第十朵时乱了

只好重新从第一朵数起

你在岸上跟着数

数着数着

扑通跳进去

说要教她们数数

等我把你拉上来

浑身湿透的你说

水底的鱼

也在教水面的我们

数云彩

85. 结满星星的柿子树

晨雾把远山装进宣纸

你在晒谷场上用树枝画画

先画两条河

你说一条我一条

再画两座桥

在我们河上

画到第三棵树时

露水打湿了你的布鞋

你索性踩进画里

说是要走到山里去

找那棵

结满星星的

柿子树

86. 和你鼻尖一样甜

一把苞谷撒成弧形

你跺着脚喊“咯咯咯”

我的手揣在你兜里

数你心跳的节拍

黄狗叼走你的手套

灰喜鹊笑弯了枝头

晒着的红薯冒着热气

和你的鼻尖一样甜

87. 两只晒太阳的懒猫

你择着菠菜

根上的泥

蹭到我新买的棉鞋

你笑得露出虎牙

无花果树的影子

慢慢爬过

我们交叠的脚背

你说像两只晒太阳的懒猫

88. 小土匪

你的小风筝

缠上我的

线在天空打了个死结

你说这算不算缘分

我们追着跑

踩倒一片油菜花

那个收风筝的老头

笑着骂“小土匪”

89. 你转身泼我一脸水

你指着彩虹说

那是神仙晒的腰带

我悄悄在你背后

别上一朵栀子花

蝉突然不叫了

水珠从瓦檐滚落

钻进你的后颈

你转身泼我一脸水

90. 在你酒窝里躲着

你兜着裙子

喊“快、快、快”

鱼从指缝溜走

你说是故意的

我的白衬衫

印满你的手印

那只逃走的虾

在你酒窝里躲着

91. 给你补腮红

炊烟歪歪扭扭

写着歪歪扭扭的字

你说是我们的名字

被风吹乱了

灶膛的火

映红你的脸

你说红薯烤焦了

我说正好给你补腮红

92. 整个山坡都是甜的

你摘朵野花

插我衣兜

又偷偷换朵蔫的

笑得直不起腰

蜜蜂追着你跑

你躲在我身后

那个下午

整个山坡都是甜的

93. 偷偷拉了线

你举着手电

照水里的月亮

说今晚要钓

最亮的那条

鱼竿突然一沉

你往我怀里钻

原来是我偷偷

拉了线

94. 抠下来写信

你踩着水坑

故意溅我

伞转得像风车

甩出一圈圈银珠

屋檐下的苔藓

偷偷爬上墙

你说等天晴了

我们抠下来写信

95. 刚买了冰棍下去

红色办公楼里

你窗户亮着

我在楼下数

你影子晃了几次

门卫大爷说

小伙子

你等的姑娘

刚买了冰棍下去

96. 比山风还轻的悄悄话

你走不动了

趴我背上数星星

说那颗最亮的

是我们未来的家

露水打湿鞋

野兔窜过草丛

你在耳边说悄悄话

比山风还轻

97. 呛红了脸

雨后的竹林

你找笋尖

我找你的脚印

每个坑里都有惊喜

你撬开泥

捧出胖乎乎的笋

说像我们的宝宝

我呛红了脸

98. 在泥里打滚的猪

梁上的燕巢

掉下片羽毛

你接在手心

说要写封信给我

墨水还没干

你就画了只猪

说是我

在泥里打滚撒娇

99. 压在玻璃板下的火车票

你指着画说

这山不够高

这水不够清

都没有我们老家好

我说那回山上去

你说山下好，好快的火车

可那张火车票

一直压在玻璃板下

100.蜜蜂踩过的花瓣

你种的桃树

开了花

你说一朵是我

一朵是你

风吹落几瓣

你急了

我说别怕

掉的是蜜蜂踩过的

101.提着小灯笼来劝架

你说青蛙在吵架

我说在开会

你说是抢新娘

我说在比嗓子

满田埂的呱呱声

陪着我们发呆

直到萤火虫

提着小灯笼来劝架

102.浪又追来了

你追着浪跑

浪追着你跑

一个浪头扑来

你跑进我怀里

你说海水咸

我说没你汗咸

你掐我一把

浪又追来了

103.不懂你们笑什么

补网的老人

手比网还乱

你蹲在旁边看

学着穿线

渔网越补洞越大

老人笑了

你也笑了

只有我不懂你们笑什么

风一定懂得彼此的脸红

104.只剩月亮

那只野猫

总在我们约会时

蹲在墙头看

你说是她派来的

有天你走了

猫也不见了

墙头的瓦片上

只剩月亮

105.飘来飘去的心

你爱看云

说这朵像马

那朵像鱼

都往天边游

我说你就是云

一会儿在眼前

一会儿在天边

让我的心飘来飘去

像海中的孤帆

像水中的浮萍

106.和你一起傻

你对着空谷喊我的名字

回声弹回来变了调

你说是山谷在学你

我说是山谷在笑你

你捡起石头扔进去

咕咚一声

你说是山谷咽了口水

我说是山谷

想和你一起傻傻的好

107.抢那颗最亮的星

你指着银河说

牛郎织女在开会

讨论今年七夕

带什么礼物

你说我们帮他们出主意

我说好

你说是喜鹊

我说是葡萄

争着争着

你睡着了

梦里还在伸手

抢那颗最亮的星

抢得我的指尖轻疼

108.把月亮腌进坛子里

你问我露水是什么味道

我说是月光的汗

你舔了舔草叶

说是咸的

我说像眼泪

你说是甜的

像你偷吃的糖

于是我们决定

把月亮腌进坛子里

看谁先熟透

109.等云掉下来

你仰头看天

张着嘴

说等云掉下来

尝尝什么味

等了一下午

脖子酸了

云还在天上

你生气了

说再也不理她

可第二天

你又仰着头

张着嘴

等棉花糖在唇畔盛开

110.蚂蚁的教官

你发现墙根有窝蚂蚁

每天给她们带饭粒

说这是你的兵

要训练她们搬家

蚂蚁排着队

你喊口令

一二一

她们不听

你蹲在那

和她们讲道理

讲了整整一个下午

黄昏笼着小姥爷的梦境

111.和稻草人讲理

你对着稻田里的稻草人

说她偷了你的发卡

要她赔

稻草人不说话

你爬上她的肩

给她画了副眼镜

说这下斯文了

可以讲道理了

然后你坐在那

和她聊了一下午

聊到炊烟升起

聊到星星出来

112.赶走乌云

你爱看晚霞

说那是神仙在晒被子

红色的是喜被

黄色的是棉被

紫色的是嫁妆

我说那朵黑的呢

你说那是乌云在捣乱

要把她赶走

你挥着树枝

追着太阳跑

一直跑到天黑

113.画在窗玻璃上的春天

你爱在玻璃上哈气

画小人画房子画太阳

画两个手拉手的人

说这个是你这个是我

窗外的雪在下

你在窗上画春天

画着画着

玻璃流泪了

你说她感动了

我说是你太暖了

114.谁的脚印更甜

你发现雪地上有串脚印

说是狐狸的

我说是黄鼠狼的

你趴在地上闻

说是草莓味的

我说是红薯味的

争着争着

脚印被新雪盖住了

你说算了

等明年再问她

115.树洞里的秘密

你在老槐树下挖了个洞

说要藏宝贝

弹珠、糖纸、鸡毛

还有你写的纸条

我偷看过

上面写着：

“今天他没偷吃我的冰棍”

第二天你又挖开

说宝贝还在

放心了

我说藏什么

你说秘密

连你也不能说

只能让她在心底发芽

116.稻草人也有心事

你给稻草人穿上你的旧裙子

说她冷

给她围上围巾

戴好帽子

你站在她面前

说她像你

也爱发呆

风吹过来

稻草人点点头

你高兴了

说她听懂了

117.说破了就不好听了

你爱听布谷鸟叫

说她在叫“不哭不哭”

我说是“布谷布谷”

你捂住我的嘴

说破了就不好听了

我们坐在田埂

听了一下午

听到太阳落山

听到月亮出来

你说布谷鸟回家了

明天再来

118.提着小灯笼找人

萤火虫飞过的夜晚

你追着跑

说她们提着灯笼

在找人

找谁

找走丢的星星

你帮着找

找了一晚上

一颗也没找到

你说明天再找

星星会回来的

119.把笑声种进土里

你在菜地里挖坑

说要种笑声

等秋天就能收获

一地的哈哈哈

我帮你浇水

你盖上土

踩实了

插根树枝做记号

第二天你就挖开

说看看发芽没

我说没那么快

你说她怕黑

要给她唱歌

120.一个比一个圆

你坐在门槛上剥豆子

我坐旁边数

一颗两颗三颗

你剥得比我快

数着数着就乱了

你说重来

我说好

你偷偷把豆子

拨到我这边

说你赢了

我说你赖皮

你笑得比豆子还圆

121.抢那颗最甜的星

你指着天上的星星

说要摘那颗最亮的

我说太高了

你说搭梯子

我说没梯子

你说长翅膀

我说没翅膀

你生气了

说那就不摘了

等她掉下来

我们一起抢

122.分不清谁的影子更长

傍晚的影子拉得好长

你踩我的头

我踩你的脚

你说我的影子比你长

我说你的比我长

争着争着

影子合在一起

分不清谁是谁

你说算了

反正都一样

没有光时，影子就散了

123.和月光捉迷藏

月光洒在院子里

你躲在树后

我假装找不到

你忍不住笑出声

我循声去找

你又躲到井台后

我故意往反方向走

你急了

跳出来喊我

我说找到你了

你说不算

我作弊

我说是你笑得太响

惊跑了池塘里的小青蛙

124.漏掉的那个最甜

你举着竹竿打枣子

我兜着裙子接

一颗两颗三颗

掉在头上的

掉进领口的

掉到地上的

都捡起来

你问我够不够甜

我说够了

你尝了尝

说漏掉的那个最甜

125.画下我们的影子

你趴在石头上画画

画山画水画云

画两只鸟

说一只是你

一只是我

画着画着

鸟飞走了

你说她们去找家了

我说她们就是家

你点点头

在画上添了棵树

说是我们的树

126.陪我们坐到天亮

你在院子里数星星

一颗两颗三颗

数到一百就乱了

只得重新数，反复

数到一百又乱了

你说星星在动

我说是云在动

你说是星星调皮

我说是你看花了

争着争着

启明星亮了

你说她陪我们

坐了一夜

Our Love Diary

(A Cycle of Poems)

by Zeng Guotao

1.Mischief in the Spring Breeze

March wind turns your floral shirt to flags,

I chase the kite with its broken string.

Your lost shoe sinks in the rapeseed field,

Stepping on my footprints, you say you found it.

Half a red ribbon hangs on the peach tree fork,

You tiptoe up while I hold your waist,

Petals drift down onto your neck—

Tickling us till we laugh, bending the ridge.

2.Sour Green Apricots and Screams

Your bulging pocket jingles,

You pull out stolen green apricots.

Biting one, sour enough to wrinkle your face,

Yet you stuff the biggest pit into my mouth.

The canal reflects the shattered blue sky,

You splash water and wet my pant legs,

From the reeds bursts a green-winged duck,

Carrying our screams up beyond the clouds.

3.Summer Birthmark

Sweat-soaked July afternoon,

You run from the alley holding a watermelon.

Inside the red flesh, two faces appear,

The piece I snatch has the fewest seeds.

The fan nods and chats idly,

Your bare feet rest on my mat’s edge,

Mosquito bites bloom dark blood spots on my calf,

You draw petals and say they’re summer birthmarks.

4.A Kiss Under the Eaves, Wet and Warm

The rainy season lingers like your damp kiss,

We hide under the eaves counting raindrops.

You point to the leaking tin roof,

Saying it’s the sky beating wooden fish.

Puddles swell, soaking fallen tung flowers,

You step barefoot, tracing eight-legged octopuses,

Suddenly thunder cracks, you dive into my arms,

Your hair smells of fresh-cut grass shampoo.

5.Paper Planes and Egg Cakes

The office’s red wall climbs with ivy,

You hang handkerchiefs from the third-floor window.

I whistle, imitating the cuckoo’s call,

Your paper plane falls into the holly bush.

The off bell rings thrice,

You linger, wiping your desk five times,

At last, you slip me half an egg cake,

Wrapped in floral paper, a sweet secret.

6.Fish Coins Paid to the Setting Sun

Where the stream bends,

You insist on stepping stones to cross.

I carry you halfway, legs trembling,

You tug my ear, shouting “Hup, hup!”

Fish nibble at your reflection below,

Your two shoes float away with the current,

Chasing them, I shatter the sunset’s glow,

You laugh with tears—coins paid to the fish.

7.The Key Taken by the Clouds

The week the magnolias bloom,

You pick petals daily, pressing them in my book.

By day seven, the book’s too thick to close,

Loose petals are all the flattened days.

The stone bench beneath the tree still holds our prints,

Two hearts you drew washed away by rain,

I ask you to draw a lock,

You bite a twig, saying: “The key’s thrown into the clouds.”

8.The Grass Ring That Takes Root

Reeds sprout their first pen,

You dip it in sunset and write letters on the river,

Reading aloud to passing wild ducks,

They nod—meaning understood.

I weave a ring from foxtail grass,

Slip it on your ring finger, the yellow juice staining,

You say it’s worth more than gold,

Because the grass ring will take root and grow into flesh.

9.Mending the Moon

You lie beneath floating clouds counting sheep,

I count your eyelashes—twenty-three—

You suddenly roll over,

Saying the sheep all ran into my eyes.

Half a moon hangs on the treetop,

The other half chewed into crumbs in your mouth,

You spit out light flakes that float skyward,

Mending the missing crescent.

10.Shadows Shattered

Crows perch on electric wires, composing music,

You tiptoe, waving a bamboo stick as conductor.

Startled black dots scatter into gibberish,

You say the sky’s correcting its homework.

The pole’s shadow presses on us,

You step on my shadow’s head, saying “Squashed!”

I step on your shadow’s foot, you jump up,

Throwing yourself into my arms—now all is broken.

11.The Wrong Eight and the Bird That Flew First

White storks fly over the wheat field,

You point at the sky, saying it looks like the number eight,

When they turn, you panic,

Pulling my sleeve—“What if we drew it wrong?”

We redraw with sticks in the mud,

By the eighth time you laugh,

Saying the clumsy bird that flew first,

Already took our eight away.

12.The Lamp Lit by the Bodhisattva

Frogs croak, waking the first star,

You barefoot on the ridge walk stilts,

Falling into the paddy, pulling me down,

We become muddy Bodhisattvas.

Dew on rice leaves slides down our necks,

You tickle me back,

Rolling near the haystack, startling fireflies,

You say the Bodhisattva lit their lamps.

13.The Promise to Grow Old Together

The peach tree bears fuzzy little fruits,

You tiptoe daily, squeezing and counting days,

Waiting for sweetness to deepen,

Only to have birds peck the biggest one.

You chase deep into the woods,

Returning with burrs in your hair,

Emptying the bird-eaten pit from your pocket,

Saying we’ll plant it until we’re old and gray.

14.Drenched Like a Quail

Rain-soaked dusk,

You insist on picking me up from the factory,

The umbrella leans my way,

You yourself drenched like a drowned quail.

Puddles stain the road like oil paint,

You splash colored water,

Saying you’ll dye my dull days,

Into rainbows like yours.

15.Bamboo Shoot Boats and Whale Dreams

The day bamboo shoots break ground,

You run the hills with a hoe raised high,

I pick which to dig,

You say I always choose the ancestors.

With a full basket, we sit by the creek,

You craft tiny boats from bamboo shells,

Sending them off, saying they’ll drift to the Yangtze,

Bringing back whales you saw as a child.

16.The Swallow’s Gift

Swallows carry mud to patch old nests,

You look up, forgetting to cook,

The iron pot dries, smoke rises,

You stick out your tongue like a guilty child.

I bring out salty pickles,

You say “Making do is tasty too,”

At the bowl’s bottom lies a fried egg,

You say it’s the swallow’s gift.

17.The Wooden Man Who Scared Away Friends

You insist on counting sparrows on the wire,

At twenty-three, they all fly off,

You stomp, cursing their disloyalty,

I hold back laughter watching you fume.

A bird lands on your head,

You freeze like a statue, asking me to shoo it,

I raise my hand, it flies away,

You say I scared off your friends.

18.The Sea’s Echo and the Fishing Net Ashore

You point at moss on the wall, saying it looks like a map,

Insisting on finding where we live,

I say it’s the darkest green corner,

You lean close, listening—it’s the sea’s echo.

In dreams, you ride a steed,

Waves chase the horse’s hooves,

Awake clutching my fingers,

Saying the net caught you and me ashore.

19.The Crescent Moon Hit My Smile

You throw a stone into the canyon,

The echo bounces back, hitting my smile,

The old dog chases a gray magpie,

Stepping shadows into broken candy.

Figs hold their sweetness tight,

We sit idly like two sesame seeds sunbathing,

Your red hands picking leaves,

Suddenly stuffing them into my mouth—Ah, it’s spring.

20.Lips That Steal Clouds

You break open a roasted sweet potato,

Its scent burns December’s ears,

The bulging kite writes love letters in the sky,

A wild cat spies on the last line.

You point at my nose, saying “Flower season,”

I stuff the entire canyon’s snow into your collar,

The setting sun slips down the hill,

Just catching us stealing cloud-kissed kisses.

21.The Focus of the Same Drop of Water

Your eyes drown in the red office building,

Stream water flows into your collar,

Ladybugs shelter under magnolia leaves,

We squeeze into the focus of the same drop.

You say flower season is too short, I say lush is too long,

Last year’s dried moon hangs on the treetop,

Reeds paint white lines on our foreheads,

We exchange breaths, breathing through each other.

22.Watch Out, Spring Is Here

White storks sign their names in the sky,

Frogs stitch the night into fish gills,

You point at the peach tree in the landscape painting,

“This cloud looks like the rice grain you dropped yesterday.”

Rain suddenly bites the bamboo shoot’s neck,

Swallows clip our shadows with their tails,

Lights slip on moss,

You hold my waist, whisper “Watch out—spring’s here.”

23.Mutual Nourishment

You say you’ll ride the waves to find the steed,

The fishing net scoops up the whole blue sky,

I write your name on the sand,

The tide translates it into shell secrets.

You stuff salty wind into my pocket,

I tie wet moonlight in your hair,

Suddenly a wave crashes over us,

We become two fish nourishing each other.

24.The Dumbest Wisdom

Figs hide sweetness inside,

You say it’s the dumbest wisdom,

The old dog chases its tail,

Tracing a circle called forever.

Gray magpies steal our words,

Drying them into sugar frost on the eaves,

I pick leaves, pretending to watch clouds,

You suddenly hug my panic from behind.

25.The Burning Lie

I tuck your red hands into my collar,

Cold enough to make me jump and curse,

Sweet potato scent rolls on the iron stove,

We share the same burning lie.

The wild cat sits on the wall, watching,

The little kite’s string snaps, caught in the treetop,

You say wait until flower season’s over to take it down,

I say wait until it’s down to joke about flower season.

26.Laughing Too Loud

The moon bitten by clouds,

You point at the gap, saying it looks like my front tooth,

Sweaty summer hides behind the rainy season,

Ladybugs count our white hairs on magnolia leaves.

You say this tree bloomed white last year,

I say this year it’s your shirt’s color,

The stream suddenly flows backward up the mountain,

Because it heard our laughter too loud.

27.The Pregnant Kite

The bulging kite is pregnant,

Carrying the whole canyon’s wind,

You pull the string, running like lightning,

I chase after, shouting “Watch the pit!”

The pit holds last year’s snow,

Beneath the snow, evidence of stolen bites,

The fig suddenly speaks,

Spitting out a mouthful of sweet seeds.

28.Under Each Other’s Eyelashes

You say flower season has come, I point at your face,

At the new pimple—“Does this count?”

You chase me over three mountain ridges,

Finally playing tricks under a peach tree.

Swallows bring mud to seal our mouths,

Moss records the debt on stones,

Suddenly a sunshower falls,

We hide under each other’s eyelashes.

29.Long Live Spring

The lush treetops hold a funeral,

Burying last year’s fallen leaves,

You pick one up, saying it looks like my palm print,

I open my hand—yours is inside too.

Reeds wear white veils,

Clouds put black veils on the sky,

Crows paint eulogies with ink,

We hold hands, shouting “Long live spring!”

30.The Breath Exchange Pose

White storks bring messages from afar,

Saying peach trees bloom in the landscape painting,

Fish bite reflections,

Frogs practice love songs at night.

You point at raindrops—“These are tears,”

I say the sky is spitting seeds,

Bamboo shoots suddenly break through the ground,

Peeking at our breath exchange pose.

31.Just Right for a Drink

You ride the reed horse I made,

Drawing a river on the sand,

The waves chase and erase it,

You say it’s okay—the tide will remember.

The fishing net catches the setting sun,

We cook it into fried eggs,

Suddenly a wave crashes in,

Salty—“Just right for a drink,” you say.

32.The Basket Filled with Sunset

Sugar frost from last year hangs on the eaves,

Gray magpies drop feathers while stealing,

The old dog waits under the tree all afternoon,

Waiting for an empty joy.

Figs hold a bellyful of sweet words,

Stammering when they speak,

You pick leaves and laugh,

The basket holds the whole sunset.

33.Holding a Bundle of Air

The wild cat steps on our love letters,

Paw prints stamp the signature,

You say it’s natural anti-counterfeit,

More reliable than a signature.

The little kite suddenly breaks free from the treetop,

Carrying unfinished sentences,

We chase it across three ridges,

Finally holding a bundle of air.

34.Kissing at the Umbrella Handle

Sweaty summer hides in the fridge,

You open the door looking for popsicles,

See her rolling with a watermelon,

You say “Quiet—we’re family.”

Rain queues outside the window,

Ladybugs direct traffic on leaves,

Magnolia spreads a green umbrella,

We squeeze a kiss at the umbrella handle.

35.The Filter of Love

Your eyes flow a stream,

I see myself distorted inside,

You say it’s a funhouse mirror,

I say it’s the filter of love.

The red office building reflected,

Becomes a stranded whale,

We sit on its back,

Fishing—fishing for each other’s lies.

36.Firefly Earrings

Lights slip on moss,

Spilling scattered shards of glow,

You pick one and tuck it by my ear,

Saying it’s a firefly earring.

Frogs suddenly turn into love songs,

Fish beat rhythms underwater,

A white stork flies by, dropping a feather,

Just right to tuck into my hair.

37.The Girl in Spring’s Embrace

The peach tree drunk on rain,

Sways drunkenly in the wind,

You say she’s a dancing auntie,

I say she’s a girl in spring’s embrace.

Bamboo shoots peek from the soil,

Watching us share a peach,

Swallows fly by, cutting a cloud,

Just right to wipe the juice from your mouth.

38.Counting Each Other’s Freckles

Reeds from the painting,

Blown by wind into reality,

You point at white hair,

Saying it’s our old age.

Clouds paint crows in the sky,

Crows scrawl curses on the heavens,

We lie on the grass,

Counting freckles on each other’s faces.

39.Water Splashes on Sweaters

You ask if water splashes know the way—

Chickens and ducks flutter away,

The old dog chases its tail,

Gray magpies watch from the eaves.

Fig leaves clap their hands,

I pick vegetables, you sunbathe,

Frozen hands touch,

And the splash lands on your sweater.

40.Saying This One’s Sweeter

Sweet potato scent clings to fingers,

You peel one, saying it looks like sunset,

The wild cat yawns on the wall,

The bulging kite’s string breaks.

When’s flower season?

You bite, tongue burnt,

I laugh at your clumsiness, you snatch mine,

Saying this one’s sweeter.

41.Forgotten Cured Meat

You say the wild cat stole the cured meat,

I say it was the old dog.

You chase her, she jumps on the wall,

Tail sweeps down figs.

I crouch by the creek washing vegetables,

You suddenly hug me from behind,

Saying the meat’s on the stove,

We just forgot to put it away.

42.Mirror’s Reflected Lies

The rainy season drags on, mushrooms grow on the eaves,

You count the cloudy days,

I say the seventh,

You say no, the eighth.

Moss climbs the steps,

Ladybugs lose their way on the windowsill,

You suddenly say you want to sunbathe,

I point at the wall’s light patch—

That’s the mirror’s reflected lie.

43.Standing in Mud, Laughing Foolishly

The red office building locked tight,

We plant peach trees outside the wall,

You say when they bear fruit,

You’ll climb over and pick.

I say you’re crazy,

You say love is crazy by nature.

Rain wets bamboo shoots,

Swallows bring mud,

We stand in the mud, laughing foolishly.

44.Counting Fallen Petals

Your eyes hold streams,

Mine hold fish,

You ask if swimming is tiring,

I say no,

Because water plants hold us.

Frogs wake the magnolia,

Flower season ends,

We’re still beneath the tree,

Counting fallen petals.

45.Falling in the Grass, Laughing

The treetop lies, pointing at the sky,

Saying clouds are cotton candy,

You believe it, tiptoe to reach,

I laugh at your height.

You say carry me,

I say you can’t,

You squat, I jump on,

Reeds startle white storks,

We fall laughing in the grass.

46.Filling Each Other’s Eyes

Clouds and crows paint the sky,

You ask if it looks like a bad painting,

I say it looks like the noodles you cooked last time,

You hit me, pretending hard.

Is there a crow in the Classic of Mountains and Seas?

You say yes, called Jingwei,

I say Jingwei fills the sea,

You say then we fill each other’s eyes.

47.Gray Magpies Stole Half

White storks stand on the ridge,

Like you waiting for me to pick vegetables,

Chickens and ducks have gone home,

The old dog sleeps too.

You say if I don’t come soon, they’ll fly away,

I ask where,

You say under the eaves,

Figs are ripe,

Gray magpies stole half.

48.Let’s Watch Clouds Here

Frogs wake fish,

You say you want to raise one,

I ask where,

You say in your eyes.

The landscape hangs on the wall,

You say real mountains are better,

Go climb a mountain?

You shake your head,

“Let’s just watch clouds here.”

49.Marry After Fooling Winter

The AC blows white fluff pretending to snow,

You build a snowman wearing my crooked wool hat,

Frost on the fridge prints a fingerprint map,

Frozen pears hit toes—jumping and stumbling.

Radiators hum out-of-tune songs,

Hot water bags burn feet like kisses,

“Marry me after we fool winter,”

You bite an apple, feeding me sweet ice shards.

50.Testing Wings in the Season of Blossoms

The canyon keeps winter folded in its navel,

Chickens and ducks crowd like a fuzzy question mark,

The old yellow dog chases its own tail in circles,

Gray magpies tap rhythms on fig-tree branches bare.

You sit idle, sunning, peeling hands frozen red,

Choosing leaves, green juice stains your nails instead.

Sweet scent of sweet potatoes sneaks from the stove’s hole,

A little kite tests wings in the blossom season’s soul.

51.Pretending to Be a Tree

A wildcat steals dried fish from the sunlit mat,

Sweat-soaked rains can’t catch up with her at that.

The red office building dozes by the creek’s edge,

Ladybugs count dew on magnolia’s fresh green pledge.

You say the bloom is short, I say lushness is long,

Reeds on treetops wave to clouds drifting along.

Crows paint the sky like children’s careless art,

A stork stands on one leg, pretending to be a part — a tree.

52.An Empty Fishing Net Like Your Open Arms

Frog songs poke holes in the silent night,

Fish nibble mooncakes on the water’s light.

A landscape painting hangs, gathering dust,

Peach trees drink rain till their bellies are just.

Bamboo shoots break stone, eavesdrop on the earth,

Swallows carry mud, skimming your brow’s berth.

Lanterns write diaries on mossy floors,

I dream I’m a steed running ocean shores.

The fishing net’s empty — like your open arms, sure.

53.Leaf-Picking Strikes Me

You pick leaves while I count lines on your hand,

Frozen red like shrimp fresh from the sand.

Chickens and ducks gather, begging for grain,

The yellow dog lies at your feet, a warm flame.

From the canyon floats cloud-like cotton soft,

Figs hide summer’s secrets aloft.

Sweet potato scent haunts hungry ghosts anew,

I pinch your waist, you strike me with leaves you drew.

54.Falling into Freshly Turned Mud

The little kite broke free and fled,

Spring winds treat her like their own fledged.

You say she went to play with clouds up high,

I say she’s like my heart that ran away to fly.

Gray magpies laugh with tears on the roof’s rim,

Raindrops drip from eaves, last night’s hymn.

We chase empty spools in the open yard,

Falling into soft mud freshly turned and marred.

55.The Basket of Leaves, Empty Then Full

Sitting idle on the doorstep, sharing one orange,

You squint at sour, I grin at sweet’s porridge.

The yellow dog steals the peel for a toy,

The canyon slices sunlight in halves, oh joy:

One half warms your back, the other my chest,

Figs ferment honey in branches dressed.

Frozen hands reach into my pocket’s span,

The basket of leaves empties, then fills again.

56.Foolish While Waiting for You

A wildcat squats on the wall like a Buddha’s gaze,

Sweat-drenched, we just finished drying our haze.

The rainy season comes and goes without a plan,

The red office building lights up like a red-eyed scan.

The creek rises to the third stone step’s face,

Ladybugs hide beneath magnolia’s embrace.

You say the wildcat waits for her love’s cue,

I say I’m foolish, waiting just for you.

57.The Greenish Little Knots

Magnolia petals drift in the creek’s flow,

Lush leaves squeeze the sky into a narrow row.

Reeds on treetops write wild cursive strokes,

Clouds are painted gray by crows’ careless pokes.

Storks fly off, leaving nests bare and hollow,

Frog songs make dusk hot and loud to follow.

Fish tire swimming in the painted scene,

Peach trees bear greenish little knots unseen.

58.You Are Meat, I Am Bamboo Shoot

Rain softens the soil with gentle care,

Bamboo shoots peek like your first stubbly hair.

I carry the hoe, you carry the basket’s weight,

Moss slips, I fall, you laugh bent in gait.

Swallows build nests with fresh mud on beams,

Lanterns are dark; we leave before their gleams.

You say stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat is neat,

I say you’re the meat, I’m the shoot to eat.

59.Peach Tree Roots Plunged Deep

On nights when horses run over ocean waves,

Fishing nets scoop stars from watery caves.

I tell you I dreamed of you, eyes shining bright,

You say yours sparkle just the same in the night.

The canyon’s dark is ink-black and deep,

Frog songs thicken silence like a heap.

Fish turn over in the painted mountain stream,

Peach tree roots plunge deep into the dream.

60.Missing a Few Eggs

Chickens and ducks know your footsteps well,

Grains scatter like golden beans they tell.

The yellow dog gets jealous, nudges your palm,

Gray magpies sneak grains with crafty calm.

Figs split open, laughing wide and free,

Dew drips from eaves in morning’s spree.

I chase away wildcats’ greedy peep,

You count eggs and find a few asleep.

61.Sweetest Heart of the Sweet Potato

The stove’s fire licks sweet potato skin,

Fragrance seeps through every crack and thin.

Frozen hands warm by the glowing flame,

The basket of leaves lies empty at your name.

The canyon’s cold locked outside the door,

Chickens and ducks roost early on the floor.

The yellow dog curls into a furry dot,

You say the sweet potato’s heart is the sweetest spot.

62.Autumn’s Sweetness Yet to Come

Spring winds blow and blow once more,

The little kite patches her torn core.

The string trembles like a racing heart,

You fear she’ll run; I say let her start.

Gray magpies chase the kite, scolding loud,

Swallows watch the drama under eaves’ shroud.

Figs still unripe, not ready to share,

Yet we already dream of autumn’s sweet air.

63.The Moon Just Caught

The creek swells up to the doorstep’s base,

The red office building grows upside-down in place.

Ladybugs trapped on magnolia leaves’ face,

Lush trees amplify rain’s embrace.

You say your wet hair looks like waterweed,

I say you’re the moon just caught indeed.

Storks in the distance turn into commas,

We stand beneath eaves, waiting for the rain’s drama.

64.Frog Songs Nailed to This Moment

Your eyes hold the canyon’s misty breath,

Mine bear the traces of fiery sunset’s death.

You stare at me; I look away shy,

I stare at you; you lower your eye.

Clouds drift past treetops, soft and slow,

Crows paint the sky a dull gray glow.

A stork’s shadow cuts across the stream,

Frog songs nail this moment like a dream.

65.Fish Jumping Back to the Sea

Lanterns light up like fireflies in line,

Moss glows green by the wall’s spine.

You say horses tire running ocean waves,

I say fish caught in nets leap back to their caves.

Peach trees bloom in the painted scene,

Rain rolls on bamboo shoots, fresh and green.

Swallows return home to feed their young,

We close the door, the night’s song sung.

66.The Umbrella Held Above My Head

The wildcat’s blame is mine to bear,

Sweat-soaked, stacking stones with care.

The rainy season cuts a breach in the field,

Someone watches from the red office shield.

You say I look like a drenched chicken’s plight,

I say you’re the umbrella holding me tight.

Ladybugs crawl over my hand’s skin,

Magnolia shakes off a rain-drenched grin.

67.Straightening Her Up

Spring passed; peach trees bear their fruit,

Lush leaves shred sunlight into mute.

Reeds on treetops turn white with age,

Clouds become rain, falling off the stage.

Stork nests empty then fill again,

Frog songs turn into autumn’s refrain.

Fish hide in deep water’s embrace,

The landscape painting hangs crooked — you straighten its place.

68.Waves of the Grain Field

The fishing net is no net but a cloud’s dream,

The horse no horse but a wind-blown stream.

The waves no waves but grain fields’ swell,

You laugh at my nonsense, stories I tell.

The canyon’s wind scatters words we share,

Chickens and ducks listen to our playful dare.

The yellow dog snores in his cozy den,

Figs quietly turn purple again.

69.Sticking Together When Old

Tomorrow you’ll wash clothes by the creek,

I’ll chop firewood on the mountain peak.

Ladybugs will rest on magnolia leaves,

Swallows wait for you under eaves.

Moss will make me slip and fall,

Bamboo shoots will prick my foot small.

You say, “Even old, let’s stay this way,”

I say, “Old, let’s stick close every day.”

70.Two Figs Nestled in a Pocket

North wind turns the canyon to an icy stick,

My mother pulls a warm egg from the chicken’s pick,

Slips it into my frozen hand’s tight grip,

Sweet potatoes peel their scorched skin’s tip.

The old yellow dog chases his tail around,

Circles watching us without a sound.

71.The Breath That Itches My Ear

When the moon climbs over the rice field’s edge,

You insist on counting frogs by the hedge:

One, two, three, until the eighth leaps away,

We start over, counting in the wet morning’s sway.

Dew soaks your cloth shoes; you take them off,

Stepping on my back, cool and soft.

Suddenly footsteps approach in the night,

Flashlight sweeps past — we hide tight.

In the chorus of frogs, your breath

Itches my ear with a tender caress.

72.The Peach Petals Ready to Gather

Where the creek bends in a quiet sweep,

You race a fish underwater deep.

Counting thirty seconds, you rise to the top,

Hair clings to your face, water droplets drop.

You say you see a house beneath the stream,

Built with stones, where little us swim.

A loach slips into your pant leg’s fold,

You jump, scattering peach petals ready to hold.

73.Newly Bloomed Moss Flowers

Last year the swallow’s nest was bare,

You drew two birds on the doorstep square,

Wobbly wings — one yours, one mine,

Waiting for them to fly, then we’d reclaim in time.

The old yellow dog sneezes at our feet,

Startling sleepy reed chickens in retreat.

My mother brings out rice water to play,

Deliberately soaking your painted sky away.

You laugh and hide in my arms’ embrace,

Hair brushing my chin, soft and sweet —

Like moss flowers newly bloomed beneath the eaves’ face.

74.Shadows That Never Escaped Again

Dusk bottles the village in glass jars,

You light the kerosene lamp, stars afar.

Moths flutter, hitting paper windows thin,

The stove’s fire paints half your face in a grin.

The sizzle of stir-fried greens fills the air,

You suddenly say:

“If only the power would fail,

We could sit like this forever, without trail.”

The lamp flickers once, your shadow leaps in,

Never to escape again, held within.

75.The Dandelion of That Spring

You picked the biggest leaf you could find,

Covered my face to shield the sun’s grind.

Veins traced on eyelids like a treasure map,

Like the secret you drew last night’s nap.

You said when leaves yellow, we’ll go seek

The iron box buried beneath the jujube’s peak,

Inside marbles, candy wrappers,

And your secretly written

My name.

Just then a ripe fig fell into your collar,

You jumped, shaking it off —

Just like that spring’s dandelion’s flutter.

76.Denser Leaves

We climbed to the branch where borders lie,

You said left is yours, right is mine — no lie.

Your side holds a sparrow’s nest,

Mine a dove incubating its quest.

Suddenly a magnolia flower falls,

Landing right in your open clothes’ calls.

You say this is the boundary stone,

No one may cross the scent alone.

But when it rains, you still squeeze near,

Saying my leaves are denser here.

77.Summer’s Little Dress

The loofah vine covered the east wall that summer,

You insisted ghost faces hid under leaves’ number.

I flipped one — your nail drew a ghost,

Another — crooked “You’re so dumb” post.

On the seventeenth leaf, a green mantis appeared,

Holding a sickle, asking for a signature weird.

You scared, hiding behind my back,

Laughing until the loofah flowers cracked —

Golden and bright,

Like your summer dress light.

78.Unspoken Words on the Swing

On the highest locust branch,

Last year’s kite still hangs.

You want to climb up and retrieve,

I hold you back, not to grieve.

The old locust watches us,

Shadows overlapping in trust.

Suddenly magpie pair return in haste,

Flying around the crown in a frantic chase.

You whisper in my ear,

“They must think we’re here

To fight for territory too.”

Unspoken words caught by the breeze,

Swinging on the kite line with ease.

79.Eyes Beneath the Pillow

You drew two little people on the riverbank,

Hand in hand, no flood could break their rank.

I picked shells to make shining eyes,

You used reed fluff for their clothes’ disguise.

When the tide really came to rise,

We hurried to save, but only realized

We could snatch those two bright eyes —

Now they lie beneath your pillow, wise,

Watching me every night’s skies.

80.The Sky That Forgot Its Address

You lie on the threshing floor counting clouds,

Saying the fattest one looks like my mother’s quilted coat,

The long thin one like your father’s yoke.

The smallest cloud —

Like our home.

Suddenly the clouds scatter,

Turning into flocks of sheep, into fish scales.

You sit up in a hurry,

Drawing in the sky with a twig.

Drawing and drawing, you fall asleep,

Mumbling in your dream:

Don’t run away, don’t run away —

I haven’t finished counting yet.

81.The Sky Written Full

Dusk grinds ink on the haystack,

A flock of crows writes words in the sky.

You tiptoe, counting the strokes,

Saying the first character is me,

The second is you,

The third is blown away by the wind.

You chase after it twenty steps,

Pick up a black feather,

Stick it behind my ear:

“This is the pen,

Let’s keep writing.”

We write until stars appear,

Only to find

The whole sky is written full,

But we forgot to leave an address.

82.Holding Hands Tighter

When the wheat field was freshly plowed,

Two white storks strolled in the distance.

You insisted on imitating their walk,

Lifting legs high, stepping lightly,

Startling a flock of sparrows.

I said, “You look like you,”

You said, “You look like me.”

Arguing back and forth,

The storks took flight,

Under their wings

Hid a tiny sunset.

You suddenly fell silent,

Just holding my hand

A little tighter.

83.The Frogs Calling Our Names

Moonlight spins silver threads in the paddy field,

You take off your shoes, step into my footprints,

Cool and soft.

You say inside each footprint

Lives a little frog,

Waiting to jump out at dawn,

Singing our names.

We walked a hundred steps,

Looked back and counted ninety-nine footprints,

One was missing,

Filled with your laughter.

Now every summer night,

There’s always a loud, special frog

Calling our names all night long.

84.The Fish Counting Clouds

In the deep pool where the stream bends,

Crucian carp count fallen flowers —

One, two, three…

By the tenth flower they get confused,

So they start again from the first.

You count along on the shore,

Counting and counting,

Then splash — you jump in,

Saying you’ll teach them to count.

When I pull you out,

Soaking wet, you say,

The fish underwater

Are also teaching us on the surface

How to count clouds.

85.The Persimmon Tree Full of Stars

Morning mist wraps distant hills like rice paper,

You draw with a twig on the threshing floor,

First two rivers,

You say one for me, one for you.

Then two bridges,

Across our rivers.

By the third tree,

Dew wets your cloth shoes,

You step right into the drawing,

Saying you want to walk into the mountains

To find that persimmon tree

Full of stars.

86.Sweet as Your Nose Tip

A handful of corn kernels spread in an arc,

You stomp your feet, shouting “cluck cluck cluck,”

My hand tucked inside your pocket,

Counting the rhythm of your heartbeat.

The yellow dog steals your gloves,

The gray magpie laughs, bending the branches,

The roasted sweet potatoes steaming,

Sweet as the tip of your nose.

87.Two Lazy Cats Sunbathing

You pick spinach,

Mud on the roots

Rubbed onto my new cotton shoes.

You smile, showing your tiger teeth.

The shadow of the fig tree

Slowly crawls over

Our intertwined feet.

You say they look like two lazy cats

Sunbathing.

88.Little Bandits

Your little kite

Tangled with mine,

The strings knotted tight in the sky.

You ask if this counts as fate.

We chase and run,

Trampling a patch of rapeseed flowers.

The old man who collects kites

Laughs and scolds, “Little bandits!”

89.You Turned and Splash Water in My Face

You point at the rainbow, saying

That’s the fairy’s belt drying.

I quietly pin a gardenia flower

On your back.

Suddenly the cicadas stop singing,

Water droplets roll down the eaves,

Drip into your neck.

You turn and splash water in my face.

90.Hiding in Your Dimples

You tuck your skirt,

calling “Quick, quick, quick!”

Fish slip through your fingers—

you say it’s on purpose.

My white shirt

is stained with your handprints.

That shrimp that escaped

is hiding in your dimples.

91.Adding Blush to Your Cheeks

Smoke curls crookedly,

writing crooked words.

You say it’s our names,

blown askew by the wind.

The fire in the stove

glows red on your face.

You say the sweet potato’s burnt,

I say it’s perfect to blush your cheeks.

92.The Whole Hillside Is Sweet

You pick a wildflower,

tuck it in my pocket,

then slyly swap it for a wilted one—

laughing till you can’t stand straight.

Bees chase after you,

you hide behind me.

That afternoon,

the whole hillside was sweet.

93.Secretly Pulling the Line

You hold a flashlight,

shining on the moon in the water,

saying tonight you’ll catch

the brightest fish.

The rod suddenly tugs—

you dive into my arms.

Turns out I secretly

pulled the line.

94.Scraping Moss to Write Letters

You step in puddles,

splashing me on purpose.

The umbrella spins like a windmill,

spraying silver droplets.

Moss creeps up the eaves,

secretly climbing the wall.

You say when the sky clears,

we’ll scrape it off to write letters.

95.Just Bought an Ice Pop and Left

In the red office building,

your window glows.

I count your shadows

waving from below.

The gatekeeper says,

“Young man,

the girl you wait for

just bought an ice pop and left.”

96.Whisper Softer Than Mountain Wind

You can’t walk anymore,

rest on my back counting stars,

saying the brightest one

is our future home.

Dew wets our shoes,

a wild rabbit darts through grass.

You whisper in my ear—

softer than mountain wind.

97.Face Flushed from Choking

After rain in the bamboo grove,

you search for bamboo shoots,

I look for your footprints—

each hole a surprise.

You pry open the mud,

hold a plump shoot,

say it’s like our baby.

I choke and blush.

98.The Pig Rolling in Mud

A swallow’s nest on the beam

drops a feather.

You catch it in your palm,

say you’ll write me a letter.

Ink still wet,

you draw a pig—

saying it’s me,

rolling and cooing in mud.

99.Train Ticket Pressed Under Glass