黑色的河流

我了解葬礼，
我了解大山里彝人古老的葬礼。
（在一条黑色的河流上，
人性的眼睛闪着黄金的光。）

我看见人的河流，正从山谷中悄悄穿过。
我看见人的河流，正漾起那悲哀的微波。
    沉沉地穿越这冷暖的人间，
    沉沉地穿越这神奇的世界。

我看见人的河流，汇聚成海洋，
在死亡的身边喧响，祖先的图腾被幻想在天上。
我看见送葬的人，灵魂像梦一样，
在那火枪的召唤声里，幻化出原始美的衣裳。
我看见死去的人，像大山那样安祥，
在一千双手的爱抚下，听友情歌唱忧伤。

我了解葬礼，
我了解大山里彝人古老的葬礼。
（在一条黑色的河流上，
人性的眼睛闪着黄金的光。）

The black Stream

I know what is a funeral,
I know the ancient funeral of the Yi people in the mountains.
(On a flowing black stream,
Human eyes glitter like gold.)

I see a stream of people moving quietly along a valley;
I see a stream of people shimmering with mournful ripples.
Silently it passes through the vicissitudes of life;
Silently it passes through the mystical world.

I see streams of people converging into a noisy sea beside death,
With the totem of their ancestors visualized on the vault of heaven.
I see the funeral attendants, their souls as if in a dream,
Changing into clothes of primaeval beauty amidst reports of shotguns.
I see the deceased as calm as the big mountain,
Under loving strokes of a thousand pairs of hands,
Listening to the plaintive dirges sung out of friendship.

I know that is a funeral.
I know the ancient funeral of the Yi people in the mountains.
(On a flowing black stream,
Human eyes glitter like gold.)