Scenery (Liu Xia)

5.
The two Tibetan young men and you
Were sitting in the street corner's sweet tea-house again
Two cigarettes were lighted simultaneously in his hand
One was for you
All of you did not say a word

At the big red square table
Four Khamish men were playing cards
Two little boys squatted on the ground
Petting a kitten with utmost care
Inside the house a Tibetan woman was singing
Her voice was expansive and boundless

When your cups were emptied by the third round
Hailstones were falling down outside
He lighted two cigarettes again
You were distracted
By the hailsones which hit the ground causing the water to splash
You were fascinated
When until the two cigarettes
Burnt out in between his fingers
All of you did not say a word

When you all were standing at the wet damp street
He made a loft on his shoulders
The tea was too sweet
(1987/05-12)
(translated by oswald 2011/12-00)
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