To pay homage to the late Chinese photographer Ren Hang 任航, we (roughly) translated his last published poem to English.
Ren Hang's poetry transpires a simplicity that is as any bit raw and beautiful as his photography. The original Chinese text can be found on Ren Hang's website. Image from @renhangrenhang
If you have any suggestion for the translation, please feel free to reach out.
《爱情》
我买一把刀
我们可以共用
如果你不爱我了
我就杀掉你
如果我不爱你了
你就杀掉我
2017.01.04
Love
I buy a knife
We can both use it
If you don’t love me anymore
I'll kill you
If I don’t love you anymore
You can kill me
2017.01.04
《爱情》
你不在我身边的时候
我想去找很多陌生人做爱
然后再打电话全都告诉你
如果你愤怒
你越愤怒
我才越感到安稳
2017.01.04
Love
When you are not around me
I want to make love to many strangers
And then call you to tell you all the details
If you get angry -
The angrier you are
The more secure I feel.
2017.01.04
《爱情》
我们喝了很多酒
我们说了很多话
很多真话
很多假话
是假话
不是谎话
为了故意
伤害对方的假话
2017.01.04
Love
We had a lot of booze
We said a lot of words
Many were real
Many were fake
They were fake -
Not lies -
To deliberately
Hurt each other.
2017.01.04
《爱情》
我回头
你还站在那里
我又回头
你还站在那里
我再回头
门关上了
我看不到你
但是我知道
你还站在那里
2017.01.04
Love
I look back
You are still standing there
I look back again
You are still standing there
I look back once more
The door is now shut
I can’t see you
But I know
You are still standing there.
2017.01.04
《爱情》
我知道
我会爱你
可是我怎么
也想不到
你也会爱我
更让我不敢
相信的是
你竟然也是
这样想的
2017.01.04
Love
I knew
I would love you
But I would never
Have guessed that
You would love me too
What’s even more
Unbelievable was that
You too
Thought the same way.
2017.01.04
《爱情》
鸟会不会飞着飞着就死了
死了就停在那里
像一只悬空的标本
人会不会走着走着就死了
在路口等红灯的时候就死了
死了还站在那里
像一棵树在冬天死了
也不会马上被人发现
想到你
我真的好痛苦
2017.01.04
Love
Birds don’t just drop dead while flying
Dead in the air
Like a floating taxidermy
People don’t just drop dead while walking
Die while waiting for the traffic light
Dead yet still standing
Like a dead tree in winter
No one would notice immediately
The thought of you
Brings me so much pain.
2017.01.04
《爱情》
我看着你
还是会怕你会消失
我抱着你
还是会怕你会消失
月亮不会消失
太阳不会消失
即使阴天
即使你抬头看不到它们
你也知道它们没有消失
（我只有这样安慰自己）
2017.01.04
Love
I’m watching you
Yet still worried that you might disappear
I’m hugging you
Yet still worried that you might disappear
Moon will not disappear
Sun will not disappear
Even on a overcast day
Even when you can’t see them
You know they did not disappear
(This is the only way to console myself)
2017.01.04
《爱情》
有那么几天
我们一起洗澡
一起睡觉
一起起床
一起吃饭
连撒尿也一起
连拉屎也一起
我拉屎
你在旁边看着
但是也
只有那么几天
2017.01.04
Love
There are a few days
We shower together
Sleep together
Wake up together
Eat together
Even pee together
Even shit together
I take a shit
You watch beside me
But
Only a few days.
2017.01.04
《爱情》
到了半夜
大家都喝醉了
有的在哭
有的晕睡在地板上
有的抱着垃圾桶在吐
你在阳台晾洗衣机里
早晨就洗好了的
内裤和袜子
我坐在沙发上看着你
就像我们已经在一起
生活了很久
很久
2017.01.04
Love
At midnight
Everyone is drunk
Some are crying
Some passed out on the floor
Some are puking in the trash can
You are on the balcony
Hanging the underwear and socks
That were washed this morning
I’m watching you on the couch
As if we have been living together
Forever
And ever.
2017.01.04