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If One Is Determined to Shine by His Own Light
At the crossroads, eight people are carrying a black coffin.They lift the coffin’s lid, look into it, and gaze at my throatcollapsing as it decomposes.I’m beyond my own death now, but still talking.At the crossroads, three paths diverge,one leads to the river, the second to the forest—I was drawn to both destinations, but will never reach either.Instead, I choose the path to death.At the crossroads, I’m restrained inside a coffinbeing carried by eight people with big feet—they’re walking me to death’s final placebut I’m talking as we go.I believe deeply that if someone is determinedto shine by his own light, he will never revolvearound anyone else’s star. How can I doubtthat after death has silenced his vocal cords,he will still be singing?
2008.6.30 [End Page 167]
Dong Danzi (1964–2013) was born in Dongdang Village, Qi River City, Hunan province. He dropped out of high school in 1982 and lived on temporary teaching and editing jobs in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Changsha, Yiyang, and other places. He published three poetry books and was awarded the Best Poetry Award by the Journal of Selected Poetry in 2006. He died of a heart attack at age forty-nine. The following year, his sister established the prestigious Dong Dangzi Poetry Prize.
