Faith in the Future
Guo Lusheng

When cobwebs sealed my kitchen stove
And the lingering smoke sighed for the sorrows of poverty,
I ceaselessly smoothed flat the disillusioned ashes,
And wrote confidently: have faith in the future.

When my purple grapes lost their enchanting hue,
And dropped, cluster by cluster, like lovelorn tears,
I ceaselessly brandished the withered, dew-laden vine
And wrote on the desolate earth: have faith in the future.

I'm going to point at the waves surging towards the horizon,
I'm going to prop up the sea that holds up the sun,
In the flickering dawn light, like a gigantic brush
I'll write in a childish hand: have faith in the future.

I firmly believe in the future,
Because I have confidence in the eyes of people of the future
With eyelashes that can blink off the dust of history
And pupils that can penetrate the chapters of time.

No matter how they see our putrid skin and flesh—
The melancholy of bearings lost and the anguish of failure,
Whether they are moved to tears and deeply sympathize
Or disdainfully sneer and taunt us bitterly.

I firmly believe that on our backs—
Countless explorations, lost hearings, setbacks and successes
An objective and just judgement will be passed.
Yes, I anxiously await their appraisal.

Friends, have faith in the future,
Believe in unremitting effort,
Believe that the power of youth can overcome death,
Believe in the future and love life passionately.