This poem is taken from PN Review 256, Volume 47 Number 2, November - December 2020.
Wong May translates Du Fu
Visiting a Nephew
To rinse rice
Draw less
Water
Drawing much,
You muddy the well,
Cutting down wild ferns for food,
Don’t let go your hand
Let go your hand,
You hurt the root.
Not Seeing Li Bai
Not seeing Li Bai
For a time
I begin to fear for him.
My friend
With talent enough to kill,
: Be killed.
It’s as well he was thought
Crazy.
Am I alone in loving that talent
Goddamn talent
...
To rinse rice
Draw less
Water
Drawing much,
You muddy the well,
Cutting down wild ferns for food,
Don’t let go your hand
Let go your hand,
You hurt the root.
Not Seeing Li Bai
Not seeing Li Bai
For a time
I begin to fear for him.
My friend
With talent enough to kill,
: Be killed.
It’s as well he was thought
Crazy.
Am I alone in loving that talent
Goddamn talent
...
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