from Spring Songs (10)
10.
No moon. God has no early evening plans.
Oak and walnut leaves spread across the neighborhood,
A planet whirs like a lime between the new leaves.
A bright spot. A memory. Gone in the morning.
If there really is a time to be still it is now: a cell
splits, reforms, comes whole, continues,
is cut out, spins like a leaf into a space
of no-being, hard matter. Alone on a bed
you will suffer the speed of being observed
as from afar while the world spins, they lean away,
your loved ones, into the dark, come round again.
In the mean time, when your light winks or is blocked
by the slightest breeze against a leaf, we will know
and run with you to keep you in sight, at the speed
of the day’s suffering itself to be tracked by shadows,
and together find the time to be still.
Translations from the English 
Immaculate and breath-taking in its sheer power!
If I had a back cover I’d put that right across the top of it. Thanks–
The best place to be still.
I hope you are feeling fine, AK.
Feeling better as spring progresses, Jeff.
So nine is not enough, Jeff. I’m glad you wrote this one.
As I mentioned earlier on your blog, I’m apparently bad with numbers…
Reblogged this on Life is But This and commented:
No moon. God has no early evening plans.
無月。神在這個黃昏沒有計劃。
Oak and walnut leaves spread across the neighborhood,
櫟樹和核桃的葉子四散。
A planet whirs like a lime between the new leaves.
行星像柑橘在新葉間旋轉。
A bright spot. A memory. Gone in the morning.
明亮的一處。一個記憶。天亮消亡。
If there really is a time to be still it is now: a cell
這個正是靜止的一刻：細胞
splits, reforms, comes whole, continues,
在分裂，改造，自新，持續，
is cut out, spins like a leaf into a space
它被切除，像葉子當空打轉
of no-being, hard matter. Alone on a bed
至無物，硬化。獨自在床
you will suffer the speed of being observed
你會忍受從遠處被觀察的速度
as from afar while the world spins, they lean away,
全球旋轉，離遠，
your loved ones, into the dark, come round again.
你的至愛，消失在黑暗中，又重現。
In the mean time, when your light winks or is blocked
同時，當你的神采閃爍 或被
by the slightest breeze against a leaf, we will know
吹向葉子的微風擋住，我們會了解
and run with you to keep you in sight, at the speed
會伴你同行，看護著你
of the day’s suffering itself to be tracked by shadows,
與日內的艱苦同速，讓陰影追蹤，
and together find the time to be still.
一起找到靜止的時光。
Mary Tang
I have now attached an audio file of my reading in Cantonese on the reblog.
This is wonderful, Jeff. What an enchanting notion you have spun here.
Thanks!