Poem
Wang Xiaoni
Full moon
the full moon riseshigh about my pillow
that anxious moon
a sleepless guitarist
steps out dishevelled rhythms
along moonlit streets
the heart jolting at will
then: immense calm
many silver practised circlings
although
no one is willing to touch those footprints
only what is past
is clear
so limpid,
absolutely limpid
I walk towards white night
holding myself together
those with a conscience
have no fear of frankness
the talented are terrified by concealment
that which has life
is destined to attract calamity
because
of the full moon, beautiful
through long darkness and deficiency
we rise brilliantly
we fall even more brilliantly from the sky
everything: immense calm
1985
© Translation: 2004, Simon Patton
FULL MOON
© 1985, Wang Xiaoni
Poems
Poems of Wang Xiaoni
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Full moon
the full moon riseshigh about my pillow
that anxious moon
a sleepless guitarist
steps out dishevelled rhythms
along moonlit streets
the heart jolting at will
then: immense calm
many silver practised circlings
although
no one is willing to touch those footprints
only what is past
is clear
so limpid,
absolutely limpid
I walk towards white night
holding myself together
those with a conscience
have no fear of frankness
the talented are terrified by concealment
that which has life
is destined to attract calamity
because
of the full moon, beautiful
through long darkness and deficiency
we rise brilliantly
we fall even more brilliantly from the sky
everything: immense calm
1985
© 2004, Simon Patton
Full moon
the full moon riseshigh about my pillow
that anxious moon
a sleepless guitarist
steps out dishevelled rhythms
along moonlit streets
the heart jolting at will
then: immense calm
many silver practised circlings
although
no one is willing to touch those footprints
only what is past
is clear
so limpid,
absolutely limpid
I walk towards white night
holding myself together
those with a conscience
have no fear of frankness
the talented are terrified by concealment
that which has life
is destined to attract calamity
because
of the full moon, beautiful
through long darkness and deficiency
we rise brilliantly
we fall even more brilliantly from the sky
everything: immense calm
1985
© 2004, Simon Patton
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