S H U   C A I
______________________

TWO POEMS

 

Translated by Zhang Er and Leonard Schwartz

 

Lotus

 

I have spent many tranquil and desireless nights
Sitting, my legs crossed in meditation.
I breathe a human's breath— in and out—
eh, world? It hardly exists.

Another world exists…
Other winds, other sacrificial lambs,
other faces, not necessarily lively…
In other words, they belong to another space.

I spread my hands,
the only two lotus I own.
You say they are growing— but in what direction?
You say they are traveling/on their way— but where?

I'm merely learning to forget—
that huge university not seen by eyes of flesh.

 

 

n e x t

 

back to issue two

 

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