by Zang Di
It snowed very little— a sign of loneliness
that lasted many years, quietly,
like a mysterious contempt
When a heavy snow bursts
death will have to be offered
as a body that contradicts it
and constitutes a great obstacle.
What death desires most
is the body that it had to endure
James Baldwin’s body
is qualified, in the background of snow
He looks more impressive than death
A luxurious victim
he turned pitch-black in the snow
and so did the snow in his spirit
Translated from the Chinese by Ming Di and Neil Aitken