Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Song Xiaoxian

Happiness

in the depression of afternoon
and dripping with sweat
I am writing a prayer
I lean over my desk alone
unaware of my sweat-drenched clothes

knowing that the moment is near at hand
my style becomes more responsive
after writing the word “angel”
I feel the tip of my pen lighten instantly
but when I mention “God”
it becomes a dragging, dead weight

after touching on the word “resurrection”
the ink begins to gush
from the tip of my dreary pen
the same way spring water wells

this is the moment I have looked forward to for so long
and I sense that my pen
is happier just now than I am

HAPPINESS

Close

Happiness

in the depression of afternoon
and dripping with sweat
I am writing a prayer
I lean over my desk alone
unaware of my sweat-drenched clothes

knowing that the moment is near at hand
my style becomes more responsive
after writing the word “angel”
I feel the tip of my pen lighten instantly
but when I mention “God”
it becomes a dragging, dead weight

after touching on the word “resurrection”
the ink begins to gush
from the tip of my dreary pen
the same way spring water wells

this is the moment I have looked forward to for so long
and I sense that my pen
is happier just now than I am

Happiness

in the depression of afternoon
and dripping with sweat
I am writing a prayer
I lean over my desk alone
unaware of my sweat-drenched clothes

knowing that the moment is near at hand
my style becomes more responsive
after writing the word “angel”
I feel the tip of my pen lighten instantly
but when I mention “God”
it becomes a dragging, dead weight

after touching on the word “resurrection”
the ink begins to gush
from the tip of my dreary pen
the same way spring water wells

this is the moment I have looked forward to for so long
and I sense that my pen
is happier just now than I am
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère