Mang Ke is a prominent Chinese poet and painter who started the
underground literary journal Jintian (Today) with Bei Dao. He has
published several collections of poetry in Chinese, as well as a novel
and a volume of essays. October Dedications contains a chronological
selection of material focusing on previously untranslated work from the
early 1970s to late '80s.
Frozen Land
pallbearers drift by like a cloud
the river slowly carries the sun
dying the water's long surface golden yellow
such stillness
such vastness
such sadness
the meadow of wilted flowers