Poems by Xi Chuan
Twilight
Translated by Li Fukang with Eva Hung
in a country wide and vast
twilight is equally wide and vast
the lamps turn on one by one
twilight spreads like autumn
people all close their mouths
arise, you dead
for twilight is a dream
silence has achieved purity
again I remember some names
each of them signals
a unique experience
composing Heaven and Hell
but twilight spreads over the land
I stretch out my hand, someone holds it
whenever twilight falls, there's someone
softly knocking at my door
1987