INTENTIONALLY MISUNDERSTANDING

1

There are other ways of
encountering sorrow,

Qu Yuan,

you don't have to go and
meet it

at the bottom of a river
carrying stones.

2

It comes to you
wherever you are,

at the top of the mountains
shining in the Sun;

among firs and pines,
deep in the northern forests,
               
it will make yellow and red
leaves go flying in your thoughts;

turn the dawn to a twilight,
move clouds to block the light
   
of Moon and stars. It eats
your mind every waken hour

but to jump in the river
carrying stones in your pockets,

like Virginia did, Qu Yuan,
like you did,

is to just leave an ugly sight
for the unfortunates

who pull your body up
from the depths

where your last thoughts
were extinguished in fear.

23.10.2010