Once and again you are about to speak, but saying nothing,
though it never hinders me from seeing things as they are;
though dark and gloomy signs appear in the stock market,
the weather and my recent illness. People are going insane;
anxious or completely indifferent
like the bottle of French perfume, which I spilt.
An empty bottle, at the moment, is such a wonderful metaphor.
It more than hints me that I should be doubly careful
with my life. While drinking yesterday,
someone rattled away about official and unofficial history.
We all know which is more true, just as we do about life.
It undoubtedly becomes more reliable after dispersing
of the perfume. Look, as the aroma retreats, sorrows stream in,
and endless tears.
People start repenting, some turning negative;
those knowing little about life
continue to love and fear......
About the author:
Yan Meijiu is the author the poetry collection Selected Poems of Yu Shang Yan. Her works appear in many major Chinese literature magazines and anthologies, People's Literature, Poetry Periodical, October, Zhongshan, Changjiang Literature, etc. Yan is the winner of a number of poetry prizes.