Yao Feng 18#--Jiang Qing and Chanel

Jiang Qing and Chanel

It was 1973

the visit of French President, Pompidou

the red and blue of China

blue uniforms – red armbands

waving the little red book

chanting red slogans

at the welcome banquet

Jiang Qing in her own couture

Western-style gown in beige,

French VIPs Encounter China Fashion!

paparazzi at the ready

Madame Mao's much shot

the Great Helsman didn't notice a thing

he smiled and offered France some pork

most of the time, she wasn't his wife,

not even a woman, more friend, more comrade

had Mao deeply loved his wife,

Chinese history may have

taken a different turn

the woman turned into Chiang Ch'ing,

rather than the Chanel girl

after Qincheng Prison, the blue uniform

spasm of death engraved

on a hateful face

she should have been decked

in a favourite outfit

held in a lover's arms

eyes closed at last

nothing to regret

(translated by Kit Kelen  [客遠文])

江青与香奈儿


1973年，法国总统蓬皮杜访华，
那正是红与蓝的中国，
蓝制服们佩戴着红袖章，
挥舞着红宝书高呼红色口号。

欢迎晚宴上，江青穿的却是自己设计的
米色西式连衣裙，
法国贵宾眼前一亮：中国也有时装!
随行的摄影师，
频频把镜头对准毛泽东的夫人。

这一细节，没有引起毛泽东的注意，
他含笑请蓬皮杜品尝红烧肉。
大部分时间，江青并不是他的夫人，
甚至不是女人，只是战友和同志。
如果伟大领袖深爱自己的妻子，
中国历史或许会因为爱情
而翻开完全不同的一页。

然而，这个女人却变成了江青，
而不是中国的香奈儿。
她最后身穿蓝制服自杀于秦城监狱，
死不瞑目的脸上刻满了痉挛与怨恨。
她本该身穿自己最喜欢的时装
在情人的怀里无憾地合上眼帘。