THE TRAIN - Guan Yu (China)

 

THE TRAIN

-         Guan Yu (China)

 

The train thunders past the platform, striking fear,

Inside, with words to feet-rhythms spoken,

A vibrant world unfolds--what a parallel sphere:

A swamp of sounds, a scene slightly shaken.

 

In the murmur of the throng flows a private tale.

Frozen they’d feel, in fact swift as lighting,

So swift for frail souls, whose eyes fail

as the speed becomes time-freezing.

 

The train was pierced by thousands of eyes,

Which we turn without and within.

As soon as the line begins to rise,

it becomes increasingly thin.

 

Floating in the dark sea, to the waves’ soft song,

The train moves on, as a vessel light and strong.

 

(Translated by Zhu Yage)

 

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