“Autumn” by Bai Gengsheng

Translated by Lan Xin (Lan Xin)

World Memory Heritage The Only Female Inheritor of Dongba Culture, International Renowned Writer & Poet. Internationally acclaimed bilingual writer, poet and translator, member of the Chinese Writers Association. The only female inheritor of UNESCO-listed Dongba Culture, International Disseminator of Dongba Culture and practitioner of Chinese culture’s global outreach. Winner of the Italian Francesco Giampietri International Literary Award, President of Lanxin Samei Academy and Dean of Yulong Wenbi Dongba Culture Academy.

Eva Lianou Petropoulou
Αποκλειστικη Eκπρόσωπος για την Ελλάδα για την προώθηση της πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς – Dongba Culture Κίνα

Autumn

Autumn clings high up in the firmament,
rainbows fade, rains subside;
Autumn hangs upon treetops,
sumac leaves, golden persimmons;
Autumn suspends from roof beams,
fresh meat, harvested grain;
Autumn is sealed inside earthen jars,
pickled greens, brewed wine;
Autumn is inscribed on human faces,
smiling brows, bright white teeth.

Autumn,
combed stroke by stroke by golden winds;
Autumn,
summed leaf by leaf upon the boughs;
Autumn,
tilled and tempered ridge by ridge by plowshares;

Autumn,
conducted stalk after stalk by straw!
Autumn is no ending,
autumn is but a new beginning;
Autumn is no retreat,
autumn is an eternal advance!
Autumn prepares for winter’s store,
autumn prepares for spring to rise once more.