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

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