“Burnings” by Ocean Vuong, Translated (from English to Chinese) on 29 Oct, 2025
燃燒
相片（約於1989）
菲律賓的難民營。
我坐下，被自己和別人的媽媽簇擁：我的恩主。
在這裡，她們再次年輕，
她們的身體光滑得像沒受過任何傷
白襯衣底下有什麼東西發光
從破棚的內裡開始。
不。這並非為天使準備的
隱喻 – 可是確有光環的碎屑
鎖在她們口中。別相信
她們眼中的光芒，那些強扯出的笑容
用力分明，沒給快樂留下任何空間
別說出我們的名字。那些臉龐
絕不能和她們最終的歸宿掛鉤。
當火開始燒時 別說出我們的名字
從相片的邊角，她們的笑容
坍塌成苦澀的模樣，孩子們慢慢地展開
塗抹成漆黑的灰燼，火舌吞吐的絲狀物
隨風四散。不，別說出我們的名字。
讓我們沉默地燒盡自己
不配擁有的生命。
Burnings
photograph (circa 1989)
Refugee camp in the Philippines.
I sit, flanked by mother and aunt: my saviors.
Here, they are young again,
their bodies smooth and unscarred
beneath the white garments illuminating
from the shack’s interior.
No. This is not a metaphor
for angels–but there are halo shards
locked in their mouths. Do not believe
the light in their eyes, the grins stretched
so wide, there is no room for joy.
Do not say our names. Their faces
cannot belong to the ruin they became.
Do not say our names as this flame grows
from the edge of the photo, the women’s smiles
peeling into grimaces, the boy spreading slowly
into black smudge, filaments of fire
dissolving into wind. No, do not say our names.
Let us burn quietly into the lives
we never were
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