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      October 30, 2015NightJianqing Zheng

      After bathing in the pond,
      I wrap myself in a towel
      and beeline back.
      Night ripples its gray
      over the skyline’s last pink.
      A flock of sparrows burst
      from the threshing floor.
      Cordilleras rise
      and fall in silhouette
      like a trail of graves,
      a pale moon for a wreath.
      Somewhere in the village,
      dogs are barking and possibly
      chasing jackals.
      Back at the room,
      my workmate is asleep,
      bubbling snores.
      I light a cigarette
      over the oil lamp.
      In the next room,
      a bedstead creaks,
      hunger after a day’s toil.
      Spitting out tobacco dregs,
      I shout “Get up! Let’s drink wine.”

      from Issue #7 - Summer 1997