——For Chen Xiaosan, He Zhong and Phuntsok
a bright moon shines on the earth
but it’s dark here
no one seen through out the night
leaves fall like scriptures chanting from the sky
specific, comforting,
redefining what’s withering, withered
there has never been such a thing as death
it’s nothing but a big bird
flying over you and me
it’s nothing but dim lights
nothing but quiet windows
and a dry cough when you lodge on another street
2021.11.20.
Xiao Yin (1969-) is a prominant and prolific poet from Wuhan, China. He started publishing poetry on the internet in 1998 and launched a poetry website called “Or” in 2001 that has gained wide reputation in China. He teaches civil engineering at Wuhan University but is more known as an alternative poet and musician active on the internet. He has published two collections of poems and two collections of essays so far.
Mimi Chang is a Chinese poet living in the USA. She has published widely in literary journals in China. She translates poems and literary essays and organizes the annual Hu Shi Poetry Award in China.