CHEN POYU
GLUTINOUS RICE BALLS
Translated by Nicholas Wong
Heat up the water
It has to be boiling hot until clear bubbles are rollin’
From the bottom of the pot
A squad of mini men appears and grabs the rice balls
Into the pot, the destination, they call it
While counting out loud
The silvery coin, unprepared at first
After a quick round of blackmailing
Shows up magically in a pocket
The water in the iron pot is iron’s water
The water in the clay plot is clay’s water
Some men have agile arms
Some, nimble legs
The water tastes metallic
The water reflects counting eyes
The eyes watch the water boil
They watch a familiar hand put
An egg into the pot, put put put
In a row more fresh eggs
As if baptizing them once they’re laid
Life
Will rise from the bottommost spot
The bottommost rice ball, at the very beginning
Is a contemplating stone
It’s meant to wait
Nothing has happened
Whenever in doubt, take out the silvery coins
From the pocket and pour them in
The rice ball rises
Like a sky lantern
The rice ball is then taken over by the familiar hand
With the aid of a porcelain spoon
A cloud is floating in the center of the world
Casting a small round shadow underneath
The evaporated mini men come together to watch
All the round rice balls
Break inside a round bowl
Upon break
-ing
Sesame seeds, peanuts, red bean paste
Black, amber gold sands, fuchsia undercurrents