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  • Flames and Words
  • Jidi Majia

I throw my words into the flamesbecause only flames can set my words freeand this is how I can offereverything I have to the flames(Of course this includes my body and soul)I repeat the ancient ceremonythe way my ancestors didFlames are what illuminate all livesFlames also allow us to see our deceased relativesWhen I throw words into the flamesI discover all the Nuosu people around the fire pitare gazing into eternal darknessAround them, there are no sighsThere are only the masks of the snow clan’s twelve sonsdressed in festival attire, walking by in formationTheir speech is like silenceThose maxims and proverbs glide along the groundbut there’s never a true echoI’m amazed that among those shadowstruth has already died, but timeis still alive in a different sacred regionThere is no choice; it’s only on nights like thesethat I’m truly myself, truly the poet Jidi Majiatruly a shaman no one knows aboutBecause it’s only in these momentsthat the words and flames on the tip of my tonguefinally arrive at the root of our great People’s mother tongue [End Page 108]

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