Bei Dao

Bei Dao (simplified Chinese: 北岛; traditional Chinese: 北島; pinyin: Běidǎo; literally: "Northern Island", August 2, 1949 - ) is the pen name of Chinese poet Zhao Zhenkai (S: 赵振开, T: 趙振開, P: Zhào Zhènkāi). Bei Dao is the most notable representative of the Misty Poets, a group of Chinese poets who reacted against the restrictions of the Cultural Revolution.

The August Sleepwalker (1990)

 * The August Sleepwalker, trans. Bonnie S. McDougall (New York: New Directions, 1990), ISBN 978-0811211314

I—do—not—believe! If a thousand challengers lie beneath your feet, Count me as number one thousand and one. I don't believe the sky is blue: I don't believe in thunder's echoes; I don't believe that dreams are false: I don't believe that death has no revenge.
 * Let me tell you, world,
 * "The Answer", p. 33

In an age without heroes I just want to be a man
 * I am no hero
 * "Declaration", p. 62

Allowing the executioners to look tall The better to obstruct the wind of freedom
 * I will not kneel on the ground
 * "Declaration", p. 62

between the hunter and the hunted
 * Freedom is nothing but the distance
 * "Accomplices", p. 89

long ago we became accomplices of the history in the mirror
 * we are not guiltless
 * "Accomplices", p. 89

am I to the world I don't understand its language my silence it can't comprehend Always a stranger I do not understand its language It does not understand my silence
 * a perpetual stranger
 * "A perpetual stranger...", p. 110
 * Variant translation:
 * In the world I am