Liu Xiaobo: You Wait For Me With Dust
The late Mr LIU Xiaobo (劉曉波, 28 December 1955 – 13 July 2017), a Chinese dissident and the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2010 when he was represented at the ceremony by an empty chair. (1) He was survived by his wife Ms LIU Xia (劉霞). (2) Its subtitle is "To my wife who always has a long wait, 9 April 1999".
In Christmas, we thank God for sending His son Jesus to us, and also should remember all those brave spirits who died for the freedom of humankind. I translated this poem on 17 July 2017-07-17, a few days after Mr Liu’s death. Only minor changes are made on 2020-12-25. Yiyan Han (c)
Again, I'm in prison and
you're on the outside
I've got books you sent
but you've got nothing left
The only thing you can do
is to sit in dust and wait (3)
Layer by layer, dust is everywhere
in the house. You're afraid of opening the curtains
and dread their stillness
will be disturbed by the sun
The dust covers the writings
on bookshelf and disfigures the pattern on carpets
When writing to me, you use a few dust particles
on the nib to cause pain in my eyes
You sit, day and night, and don't want to move
for you fear to hurt dust by your footsteps
You're doing your best to breath slowly
and writing a legend using your silence
In this suffocating era, dust particles
sacrifice the loyalty they only have
Dust fills up your look, breath and time
In your deepest heart, a tomb is being built
day after day, from the soles of your feet
inch by inch, to the chest, and to the throat
Tomb, as you're fully aware
is your best resting place
where you'll wait for me
'cause there's no disturbance
It's the dust that you love dearly, in darkness
in stillness, and in suffocation
You're waiting, and forever waiting
Wait for me with the dust
Refuse the sunlight and the flow of air
Let the dust completely bury yourself
Let yourself sleep in the dust
You only wake up till I return like an angel
Brush your skin, and dust your soul
just like the miracle of rising from the dead
Footnote:
(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Xiaobo
(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Xia_(poet)
(3) The meaning of dust in this poem might be better understood by reading
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/easton/ebd2.html?term=Dust
Like 3 Pin it 1*  You may watch a video of this poem in English on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbsXNAVxDu4
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Comments
Wow well put Cherie, I also found this crazy good. Extremely eye opening and intriguing read. Love you theme and the work you do. Peace and smiles as always my friend. TFOTSÂ
Thanks, and I do hope my work is an eye opener for some. Cheers.