LU XUN (1881-1936)

For a forgotten memory (1931)
Translated by Jerome Ch’en and Michael Bullock

A habit now, to spend spring in this eternal night,
In exile, with wife, child and greying temples.
In dreams, I dimly see my mother’s tears,
On battlements, ever-changing, lords’ banners.
With sorrow, I watch friends become new ghosts;
In anger, I look for ballads among the bushes of bayonets.
Then I lower my eyes and find nowhere to write
Save, on my black robe, in bright moonlight.

Photo: The singing of the bricks.