Vignettes of a South African Township called Mdantsane

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The Poetry of Liu Xiaobo 1

Photobucket

A Small Rat in Prison

for Little Xia

a small rat passes through the iron bars
paces back and forth on the window ledge
the peeling walls are watching him
the blood-filled mosquitoes are watching him
he even draws the moon from the sky, silver
shadow casts down
beauty, as if in flight.

a very gentryman the rat tonight
doesn’t eat nor drink nor grind his teeth
as he stares with his sly bright eyes
strolling in the moonlight.

5. 26. 1999

Published by Pen American Centre
Watercolor Drawing by Amitabh Mitra

3 comments:

  1. wonderful, and evocative of a certain time in history.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Shree
    Liu is still in prison

    ReplyDelete
  3. The subtle theme and the strokes of the colors have created a wonderful combination.

    ReplyDelete