Yi Sha

THE MOON REFLECTED IN SECOND SPRING

In the summer three years ago

my son and I

used to play soccer

on empty spaces in our block

there was this boy

must have been around ten

always came running to play with us

he was the grandchild

of the bicycle guard in our block

he had a bit of a lisp

that hot summer

belonged to the soccer world championship

we had reckless matches

they sued me two times

then we stopped playing

Three years later

I'm always alone

in the hot sun

walking around our apartment block

avoiding the mobsters

"You you you

why why don't you play football no more?"

from his lisping

I recognize him

he is three years older

now I can see it

he's soft in the head

"Where do you go to school?"

"I I I .... don't go to school."

In the evening

a stifling hot night between our buildings

a jerky tune played on an erhu

You can just recognize

Blind Abing's famous piece

The Moon Reflected in Second Spring

I guess no-one knows

except me

it is that kid not right in the head

downstairs in the garage

taught by his grandpa

July 2013

Tr. MW, March 2014

伊沙