The newest issue of Circumference features poems by Ma Lan 马兰, translated by Charles Laughlin. Here’s from “Writing a Love Poem for a Tooth”为牙齿写首情诗:
2. As I am the freshly minted 2003 Poet Laureate of Bent-Neck Village, my dentist is a Yale PhD.He insisted that I do a deep cleaning.He stands on the Himalayas teaching Nepalese children to brush their teeth.
Brushing in the sunshine and smiles—modern industrial society takes smiling seriouslyThe snowy mountains flow downward.
2：作为新鲜出炉的2003年歪脖镇桂花诗人，我的牙医是耶鲁大学医学博士。
他坚持要我深度清洗牙齿．
他站在喜马拉牙山教尼泊尔的孩子学刷牙。
刷出阳光，刷出微笑。 现代工业社会讲究微笑。
雪山随流而下。
For the full set of poems, click here.
