Observe From A Distance
poem by Ye Hui, translation by Zhu Feng
From a distance, the temple roof looks as if
rising out of an ancient evening mist , bell sound
nears and then disappears
The creek, maintaining its purity and
cleanliness as of a spiritual practitioner
The farmhouse is a bit too big
Potatoes are like prayer beads without holes
All these things haven’t changed yet
But some time ago, in the bush, a bird bled at its wings
blood drops fell onto the leaves
That night, a dog at the warehouse barked
against its own echoes, with fear
A baby died when being born, while some others in disaster
were rescued
The heavy mist seems like a prophecy on revolution
rushes into the city, and withdraws thereafter
No unicorn nor sword is left
But void when truth has been revealed
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