Tombstone Inscription (Update Nov 15 2014)

Tombstone Inscription

Lu Xun, 6/17/1925

Translation by Huiwen Zhang, 2012; updated Nov 15 2014

I dream of myself standing opposite a tombstone, reading the inscription.  The tombstone appears to be made of sand and gravel, many layers flaking, overgrown with patches of moss, retaining only limited lines—

… in the heated frenzy of a grandiose choir, froze; in the heavens saw an abyss.  In all eyes saw nothingness; in hopelessness found salvation. …

… there was a wandering spirit, turned into a long snake, in the mouth poisonous fangs.  Bit not into others, bit rather into itself, ’til in the end fell dead. …

... leave! ...

I circle around to the back of the stone, and only then see a lone grave, no greenery over it, already caving in.  Hence through a large opening I glimpse a corpse, chest and stomach ripped open, inside neither heart nor liver.  Yet the face bears no sign of grief or joy, but hazy as smoke.

I, in doubt and fear, haven’t turned away, yet already see on the stone’s dark side maimed lines —

… dug out my heart to eat, yearning to know the true taste.  Torment too brutally intense, so how to know the true taste? ...

… once the torment dulled, slowly ate it.  But the heart already too stale, so again, how to know the true taste? …

… answer me.  Otherwise, leave! ...

I am about to leave.  Yet the corpse in the grave has already sat up, mouth and lips unmoving, yet saying–

“Wait until I turn to dust, you will then see my smile!”

I hurry away, not daring to glance back, terrified of seeing him follow.

Translator’s note: while the prose poem is written in modern Chinese, all maimed lines quoted from the tombstone inscription are in classical Chinese.