Dec 07 2009
∞
Perhaps (A Dirge)
Perhaps you have cried yourself tired;
Perhaps you feel like taking a nap.
Then I’ll tell the owls not to cough,
The frogs not to croak, and the bats not to fly.
I won’t let the sun pry your eyelids up
Or the wind brush your forehead.
No one will startle or awaken you;
a pine parasol will shade you.
Perhaps you will hear earthworms turning soil
And the grass roots sucking water;
Perhaps the music you hear
Will be sweeter than human curses.
Then close your eyes tightly;
I’ll let you sleep, let you sleep.
I’ll cover you gently with yellow earth
And set the smoke of paper gold slowly rising.
-Wen Yiduo, after the death of his daughter. She died before he was able to see her.
