The August sleepwalker Book

Beidao now lives in exile from the China he obviously loves. He grew up in the days of the Cultural Revolution when he awoke to the realization that this was not his China. He became a thorn in the side of the government, eventually forcing the exile.

The poems reflect his love of country, experiences in the re-educated masses and hopes for change. There is nature and romantic imagery that is beautiful, sometimes hopeful, sometimes mournful.

There are many poems I love, but my favorite today is:

Song of Migrating Birds

We are a flock of migrating birds
Who have flown into winter's cage;
In the green early dawn we set off
On our flight to the ends of the earth.

Let our shed feathers
Fall on the heads of young women;
Let our strong wings
Bear the sun aloft.

We herd dark clouds,
Swaying manes pass through rainbows;
We herd the winds,
Flying pockets are filled with songs.

It is our cries
That frighten icebergs into ancient tears;
It is our jeers
That shame roses into crimson cheeks.

North, our homeland,
Accept our dream: let a tree
Grow from each crack in the ice
To bear great and small bells of joy...
p 29

Highly recommended