Watching Snow at Advanced Age    Hsu ChiCheng

A pile of white hair …

Is it?

I feel misty of eyes.

I cannot believe it.

I identify it carefully.

No mistake.

— A pile of white hair.

But, here and now, is it possible?

Still I cannot believe it.

I step forward to identify it carefully.

Still no mistake.

— A pile of white hair.

But, here and now, is it possible?

Still I cannot believe it.

I rub my eyes, and again I identify it carefully.

Still no mistake.

— A pile of white hair.

Identified for three times.

And I have to believe:

It is a pile of white hair.

Just now I must have been dim of eyes.

Alas, winter is here!

Suddenly I tremble under a spell of coldness …

Poems of the World  Winter 2013-2014