天问（屈原）(之三)

        斡维焉系？
        天极焉加？
        八柱何当？
        东南何亏？
        九天之际，
        安放安属？
        隅隈多有，
        谁知其数？

Asking Heaven (3) (QuYuan)

Where was a hole for the string of the wheel-like sky-cart?

That ordered and compelled it running.
        Where was the pole on the sky’s hanging?

Where did the Eight Pillars stand and

How they themselves were capable to keep straight?
        Why southeast-lowered land was missing lot of corners?

How did Ninth Spheres have eight edges and stretched

 them far away and juxtaposed and relieved against it?

 And those corners and sides wandering endlessly,

 Than who could know an uncountable number?
Translation from the Chinese by jinsheng