The Escape （III）

      *       V       *

Suddenly on the horizon

        rose a very big blizzard!

It was a violent war

        outside the Yalu border.

People of the People’s China

        had to join the Volunteers,

To fight the American imperialist,

        to help our Korean brothers.  

Everywhere in the country echoed

        with battle cries and songs.

It was another movement, or storm,

        as important, more strong.

Supporting the front, we must    

        organize all the men and women.

Fighting the enemy, we must    

        mobilize both the old and young.

My son was summoned

        to attend those meetings every night.

Coming home, he would mumble

        and repeatedly sigh.

One day I asked him,

        “What’s the matter, my child?”

He hesitated then knelt down,

        to ask my permission to join the fight.

“Many times, general and publicly,

        the cadres have decreed.       

More times, secretly and privately,

        they have talked to me.

‘This is the only opportunity

        to seek your advancement and advantage.

That is the best place for you

        to redeem your guilt by meritorious deed.’

“If I can join the army,

        our misery can be mitigated.

They won’t suppress us

        so viciously and harshly.

If I can fight the enemy,

        we may get some benefit.

Our daily life won’t be

        both so cold and hungry.

“Otherwise, their punishment

        will be increased, or doubled.

They said, for you, Father,

        there will be further disadvantage.

Otherwise, I myself,

        will be disgraced, and doubted.

They said, that I, Mother,

        shall be brought onto the stage.

 “Every day I see you are molested

        by those jackals and cougars.

I am very angry;

        there is flame in my heart.

Every day I see you suffer

         from slavery and hunger;

I am more hurt --

        my heart is charred!

“I cannot get up and revolt,

         since I am weak and lonely.

I cannot kill them all

         to save you out of this place.

They are so cruel,

        won’t give us any mercy.

Had repeatedly turned down           

        my petitions to take your place.

“The persecution is

        already unbearable.

What will it be

        if it is doubled?

The disadvantage

        has many examples.

I dare not to think about...

        it makes me... tremble.

 “Here is an opportunity,

        we may all be saved.

No more oppression,

        maybe we’ll be well treated.

For you, Father and Mother,

        and also for myself.

Where to find such an opportunity?

        Why don’t I take it?

“If I may go,

        there will be no more suffering than at home.

I can tell myself

        to avoid things are hard, choosing the easy.

If you let me go,

        there will be no more danger than at home.

I can take care of myself,

        by avoiding places are bad, veering to the lucky.

“Heaven and earth

        and our ancestors will help me.

If there is any credit I shall win

        and any exploit I shall achieve.

After the war, home again,

        our misery will be further mitigated;

Then I can serve you and entertain you

        much better -- I surely believe.”

*      VI      *

Not finished listening to his talk

        our tears rushed out.

We wept painfully

        and tightly embraced.

“Father and mother

        bore you chiefly for love.

We do not want you 

        to return it as any grace.

“You can bravely

         leave us and go away.

How can we let you

         leave our hearth?

Don’t you know,

         you were a part of our bodies?

Now you are still

        the center of our hearts.

“It’s true you are suffering

        with hunger at home,

however it’s better than    

        to be tortured outside.

Truly you are suffering

        from slavery at home,

Still it’s better than

        to be a soldier, going to fight.  

“If there is further torment,

        we should be tormented together.

If our doom is destined,

        together we should die!

How can we stay at home

        to enjoy your reward,

But let you go out alone

        to endanger your life?”

Many times I said no;

         I could not agree.

My child wept and begged

        many times in a day.

His eyes were swollen,

         brows tightly grimaced.

His voice was hoarse,

        and so little he ate.

Those cadres

         increased their lures.

Later they pressed us

        even harder, much more.

Secretly I considered it

        thoroughly for sure:

Why don’t I give him

        a chance outdoors?

A man must be adaptable

       in his course of growth;

Meeting the strong wind 

        with his head held low.

Back out from the dead end,   

        turn around to look;

Choose a possibly broad road,

        then bravely go.

Why not let him

        float with the wave?

It’s better than being a loch,

         living in a muddy cave.

Why not let him take

        the adventure he craves?

It’s better than being kept

        all his life as a slave.

I discussed the matter

        with my wife again.

Beseeched and persuaded her,

        now both father and son. 

“We two are old,

        no regret, to the coffin.

A young man should

        seek his place in the sun.

“If you can’t get him wings

        to fly far abroad,

You shouldn’t keep him

        suffering at home.

Why not let him

        try this hopeful road?

Maybe it can lead him

         eventually to Rome.”

A hundred times we coaxed,

        she stopped her cry.

A thousand times we coerced,

        she nodded her head.       

How much affection she showed

        and cautions she advised.

 How much tears she further shed

        and worries she still had.

To our close relatives and neighbors

        he bade a brief good-bye.

To Heaven and our ancestors

        he kowtowed and cried.

He informed his aunts and uncles

        living in the villages nearby.

Said a painful farewell to his grandparents

       living at a distance down the river side.

To be continued