jump off

translated by PLS

four (as in the fourth day of the fourth month)

                       jumping off the cliff to dive into people’s hearts

                                                             such a careless intentional plan

individuals perish together

                       back against the precipice protesting in silence

destiny this arrogant conspirator

summoning the spirits out

inherent poverty is like a haunting ghost

before death you tie up my limbs

from the uterus of hell

steal the last straw that crushed Xiangzi*

those who wish to reincarnate but die on the same day

dead early but born on the same day

replace the life-saving straw for those who wish to die

save everyone from losing the dignity of being a man

* the rickshaw boy from Lao She’s novelRickshaw Boy.