Lover
We have reached the open sea, my love,
the shore lights extinguished
seahorse flutes sweet and lilting
We have reached the open sea
I open the urn
scatter you
little pieces of you
falling more slowly than powder
obliquely onto the water
I scatter all of you
You turn the sea faintly red
You calm the waters
just as when you were alive and
midnight snow's fell upon
our open hands
I give you the sky
give you the sea
I give it all to you all to you
I take the urn that held you
hold it to my breast
I put myself inside the urn that held you
I am now in your dreams
1987-88
_________________________________
Wang Yin
A Summer Day in the
Company of Ghosts
translated by Andrea Lingenfelter
NYRB 2022
