Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Bei Dao

Reading of History

As plum flowers revolt, the hostile dews
Safeguard the darkness engraved by the midday sword
The revolution will start next morning
The plaint of widows is like a wolf pack racing across the frozen plain

Due to a prophecy, ancestors retreat into
That river where faith argues hectically with desire
There is no end, there is only a vortical recluse
Experiencing another meditative tranquillity

Climbing high to behold sunset over the throne
As civilisation drifts off with the flute music in the empty valley
Seasons stand up from the debris and
Fruits creep over the walls to chase tomorrow

KRONIEKEN LEZEN

vijandige dauw in opstandige pruimebloesem
bewaakt het duister dat het noenzwaard uithouwt
de revolutie begint de volgende ochtend
en de klacht van een weduwe doorkruist de toendra als wolven

om de voorspelling trekken de voorouders zich terug
in een van geloof en verlangen omstreden rivier
zonder einde – alleen de kluizenaar in de draaikolk
ervaart de stilte van een ander soort gedachten

van hoog ziet men de zon die zakt op de troon
als beschaving en fluitspel vervliegen in de lege vallei
verheft zich het seizoen uit de puinhopen
klimmen vruchten over de muur op jacht naar morgen

Close

Reading of History

As plum flowers revolt, the hostile dews
Safeguard the darkness engraved by the midday sword
The revolution will start next morning
The plaint of widows is like a wolf pack racing across the frozen plain

Due to a prophecy, ancestors retreat into
That river where faith argues hectically with desire
There is no end, there is only a vortical recluse
Experiencing another meditative tranquillity

Climbing high to behold sunset over the throne
As civilisation drifts off with the flute music in the empty valley
Seasons stand up from the debris and
Fruits creep over the walls to chase tomorrow

Reading of History

As plum flowers revolt, the hostile dews
Safeguard the darkness engraved by the midday sword
The revolution will start next morning
The plaint of widows is like a wolf pack racing across the frozen plain

Due to a prophecy, ancestors retreat into
That river where faith argues hectically with desire
There is no end, there is only a vortical recluse
Experiencing another meditative tranquillity

Climbing high to behold sunset over the throne
As civilisation drifts off with the flute music in the empty valley
Seasons stand up from the debris and
Fruits creep over the walls to chase tomorrow
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