If I say long time ago,
How long can it last? How short can it be?
From rushing to wash up at six in the morning,
Exams by day, exams by afternoon, practising exam questions by night,
I realised it was agony,
But don’t blame me, blame that era.

The memories from a year ago,
How long can they last? How short can they be?
From rushing to wash up at six in the morning,
Exams by day, exams by afternoon, practising exam questions by night,
Struggling to scribble a few more words, awakening in the minute before the exam is due.

Memories,
How long can they last? How short can they be?
It’s just a dream,
Yet felt like a century.
I realised it was painful,
But don’t blame me, blame that era.

Left hand resting on the right,
A large callus on the middle finger,
Showing the footprints left by countless pens.
If you see me lingering long on the grass,
Know that I am filled with doubts and unease.

An era,
How long can they last? How short can they be?
Even if I have been far away,
The imprint of that era –
“I must take exams!”
Even if it’s a fleeting thought,
It frightens me!

The words, “College Entrance Exam,”
It’s been five months,
But I haven’t mentioned them to anyone since.

What is beautiful? What is painful?
I’m not keen to know.
I want to be myself,
Not driven by something else.

If you see me wandering long into the night,
Know that I am contemplating
How to chase the brilliant starlight.

17 August 2022 in Cambridge

很久很久以前，
可以有多久？可以有多短？
从清晨六点，匆匆洗漱，
白天考试，下午考试，晚上刷题
我也发觉是痛苦的，
但不要怪我，要怪那个时代

一年前的时代，
可以有多久？可以有多短？
从清晨六点，匆匆洗漱，
白天考试，下午考试，晚上刷题
直到从梦中惊醒
还挣扎着写下几个字，赶在交卷前的那一分钟惊醒

回忆，
可以有多久？可以有多短？
仅仅是一场梦啊
却细细品味了一个世纪。
我也发觉是痛苦的，
但不要怪我，要怪那个时代

左手搭在右手上，
中指上大大的茧，
是无数支笔留下的脚印
如果你看到我，在草地上久久徘徊
你要知道，我充满了疑虑与不安

一个时代，
可以有多久？可以有多短？
即使跨过了大洋，
那个时代的印记——
我要考试！
即使是一瞬之间的念头，
我却被自己吓到！

有那么两个字，高考
已经有五个月了，
我没再跟人提起这两个字

哪些是美好的？哪些是痛苦的？
我并不执着于知道
我想成为我自己
而不屈从于任何事物的驱使

如果你看到我，在夜里久久徘徊
你要知道，我在思考
如何追寻灿烂的星光

2022年8月17日于剑桥