Post Station

A thick stack of tickets—
some for buses,
others for trains.
Each ticket
is an unfamiliar city.

​

A thick stack of tickets—
from hometown to strange towns,
from strange towns back to hometown,
like the turn of seasons,
like the cycle of life.

​

A thick stack of tickets—
like leaves in late autumn,
slowly yellowing,
like my youth,
fated to fade with time.

​

A thick stack of tickets—
whether bus tickets
or train tickets—
each has witnessed
my dreams and my helplessness.

​

A thick stack of tickets—
whether bus tickets
or train tickets—
each bought with the sweat of my labor,
now lying still,
like renminbi that slept and died.

​

Author: Liu Qiang, courtesy name Qiangge, pseudonyms Nan Shan Xiong Xiong and Xindun Yuke, pen names Liu Lianchen and Gu Chen. Born in Ganzhou, Zhangye, Gansu. Left high school after failing in science subjects. Worked as a KTV attendant, internet cafe cashier and manager, construction laborer, painter, porter, and courier. Currently works as a courier for Shentong Express in Zhangye. Enjoys reading and writes poetry when inspired.

《车票》

厚厚的一沓车票

有汽车票

也有火车票

每一张车票

就是一座陌生的城池

厚厚的一沓车票

从故乡到异乡

再从异乡到故乡

像四季交替

也像生命轮回

厚厚的一沓车票

像暮秋的树叶

在逐渐泛黄

像我的青春

难逃衰老的命运

厚厚的一沓车票

无论是汽车票

还是火车票

都见证过我曾经的

梦想和无助

厚厚的一沓车票

无论是汽车票

还是火车票

都是我用汗水换来的人民币

沉睡后又死去的模样

作者简介:刘强，字强戈，号南山雄雄、新墩寓客，笔名刘恋辰、顾辰。甘肃张掖甘州人。高一时因理科差的令人发指等原因而退学。做过KTV服务生、网吧网管和收银、工地小工、涂料工、搬运工、快递员等工作，现为申通快递张掖公司快递员。打工之余喜欢看书，对诗歌很感兴趣，有灵感时也会写诗。