Drifting through the gloom of autumn and winter,
Veering off from the swallows’ visits,
Imprisoned on an island of fatigue,
Enslaved by the rush of schedules,
And fed up with the hustle of life.
At last, I seize a night dark and windy,
Draped in a cloak of deepest black.
Tonight, I have a face unknown.

With a five-pound note in my pocket,
I laugh loudly on unnamed streets.
You fear swindlers and robbers,
I fear adulthood and desires.
Wandering freely through the long night,
Defying the moon,
And dodging the stars.

Meandering along winding paths,
Sleeping down in the deep, silent woods.
My shadow sways at the street’s end,
My body sways at night’s extremity.
I wander along the twisted roads,
Venturing onto a hazy heart.

Flowers in the storm surpass the peonies of spring,
Sails in the tsunami mock the boats on gentle waves.
The wanderer lost in revelry knows not the ancient cravings,
Seagulls among willow blossoms fear not the world’s confusion.
Wandering, wandering,
Where is the direction that belongs to me?

21 January 2022 in London

(Written after I received 5 rejection letters in one night)

在漫漫长夜里流浪

飘过了秋冬的黯然，
偏离了燕子的到访
囚禁于疲惫的岛屿，
奴役于日程的逼催，
受够了生活的奔忙
终于揪得月黑风高的晚上
披上一身幽黑的斗篷
今晚便是陌生的面庞

裤袋里插着一张五磅的钞票
在不知名的街道里哈哈大笑
你说你害怕骗子和强盗，
我说我害怕成人和欲望
在漫漫长夜里尽情的漂泊
既违背了月亮，
也避开了星光

走过弯弯曲曲的路旁，
在深寂的密林里睡下
影子于街的尽头摇摆，
身子于夜的尽头晃荡
走过弯弯曲曲的路旁
走到朦朦胧胧的心上

风暴里的残花胜过春日的牡丹
海啸中的风帆笑看碧波的游船
沉醉里的行者不知千古的欲望
柳花中的鸥鹭何惧尘世的迷茫
流浪，流浪，
哪有属于我的方向？

吴润天 2022年1月21日于伦敦的晚上