Poems by Poet Ma Di’er [China]

Poet Ma Di’er [China]
 
Poet Ma Di’er, an outstanding contemporary Chinese poet, is the real name of Ma Yong, who also previously used the pen name Gu Hanshan, was born in 1966. He previously served as a member of the Fuqing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and as deputy chairman of the Fuqing Municipal Committee of the China Democratic League. He iscurrently president of the Fuqing Writers' Association and the Executive Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Rendition of International Poetry Quarterly (Multilingual Edition). He has won the First Fuqing City Literature and Art Award, the 2022 Russian International Literary Prize for Original Composition, the 2023 Bangladesh Sahitto International Literary Award, and the 27th Italy Arona International Literary Prize in 2025. He has compiled several works, including On the Development of Speaking and Writing Abilities in Chinese Language Classrooms, Research Series on Haixi Culture and A Selection of Outstanding Chinese Poetry from Home and Abroad. He has published three collections of poetry and prose. His works have been featured in anthologies such as A Multi-Interpretation Dictionary of Chinese Misty Poetry and Pure Love Poetry, A Century of Fujian Prose Poetry, Fujian Poetry: Prose Poetry Volume, Anthology of Chinese Post-Modernist Poetry, Song of 40 Years: Anthology Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Taiwan’s Vine Poetry Journal, A Grand View of Contemporary Chinese Micro-Fiction, and World Poetry Yearbook 2024 (English Edition).
 
 
 
 
Whose axe is this, anyway?!
 
Xiao Ding, empty-handed,
walked down the street, fully aware of his surroundings,
weaving through the crowd.
Suddenly, he felt
an axe being thrust into the palm of his hand.
 
“Whose axe is this?”
Xiao Ding was completely baffled.
“Whose—axe is this?”
Xiao Ding shouted at the top of his lungs
 
“A madman’s about to attack people!”
The passersby were thrilled
and swarmed around him in a circle,
encouraging Xiao Ding to strike while the iron was hot.
 
Only the beggar called the police.
Two officers arrived and took Xiao Ding away.
Facing the disappointed crowd,
Xiao Ding’s face flushed red as he shouted:
“Whose axe is this, anyway?!”

 
 
Breathe
 
I’m feeding horses,
Then I put down the hay for winter
And breathe the crispy, itchy warm air
Of shepherd’s purse
Climbing out of the frozen soil.
I untie the reins to set the horse free,
Throw away the greasy whip,
And breathe the clatter of hooves
That hurriedly rushes out of
The unrestrained, explosive heat in the stable.
Stretching out my legs to mount the horse
With nothing on my back,
I breathe the heroic spirit of
A soaring mockingbird in the sky.
From afar comes the music from morin khuur,
A melodious and gentle confession.
Suddenly, in the wild sky and low grass,
I breathe the drunken aroma of spring, 
Like thousands of soldiers and horses rushing towards me.
 
 
Tears Stop Right Away
 
I fear pain
During annual checkups
Every time they draw blood
My tears will gush involuntarily
But when I see
My blood sample
Mixed among those
Of so many strangers
Fear fills my heart
Tears stop right away

（Translated by Prof. Shi Yonghao）