An Embroidery Needle Made from a Water-Deer Fang
Rent from DeepDyve- An Embroidery Needle Made from a Water-Deer Fang
That embroidery needle made fromA water-deer fang—Is it still fastened to the foldedScarf in your hair?Even with my dreams keeping watch,Even in my soul's distress.
The sky has darkened, Mother,The golden-feathered roosterIs hanging on the lintel upside-down.There on the thresholdThat deer-fang needleGuides the white-silver thread,Waiting for my soulTo return to your embrace.
The sun has risen, Mother,Open the carved wooden bowl.The end of the water-deer needleIs already pointing to your warm breath.And at this moment, light shows itselfThroughout the stone-slab house.Ah, that egg used to call back a wandering soul.You eat the yolk, and I'll just eat the white.
The embroidery needle made from a water-deer fang—Is it still in the felt pocket on your breast?Can you still neatly embroider my soulWhen you face the hills so lonely for so long? [End Page 82]
Mushasijia Eni (Li Hui) 俄尼·牧莎斯加 (李慧) is a member of the Yi ethnic group and is from Jiulong, Sichuan province. He has been a member of the China Writers' Association since 2005, and his works include The Soul Has a Date, The Tribe and the Lover, and Highland Potatoes, as well as the script for the television series Zhige'a'er.
Alexandra Draggeim has studied in China, Paris, and elsewhere. She graduated from Ohio State University and is now a freelance writer and translator. Her working languages are English, Russian, Chinese, and French.
