Our Beijing
A reverse poem: Different experiences of the same city.
Our Beijing
Like winter birds, like outsiders
Chasing joy, we spin in circles
Untethered, unrestricted, wild,
Bare, our souls drunk. They shun the
Cold, lift shadows over Drum and Bell
And the outdated, the Sun and Moon. Let in
Misgivings and doubt
No more. Let us live—discard
Disquiet, fear—full and with risk. We wish to say,
This is our Beijing!
This is our Beijing,
Disquiet, fearful, and with risk. We wish to say,
No more, let us live. Discard
Misgivings and doubt
And the outdated. The Sun and Moon let in
Cold, lift shadows over Drum and Bell,
Bare our souls, drunk. They shun the
Untethered, unrestricted, wild,
Chasing joy. We spin in circles
Like winter birds, like outsiders.
