Duo Yu

A Sprinkling of Snow

there’s a little light snow I’ve reached this city’s
outermost edge at once, the rivers calm down the sun
between dry grass and branches
is tormented by the severity of winter
an expanse of uncultivated ground a few dogs
iron-sheet sheds a child
playing in grey fog
in the swamps I see
a freshly-dug grave which looks like the breast
of a virgin girl a sprinkling a snow
covers it written on the unfinished headstone are the words
Here lies . . .
a migrant worker in the city, who came
to a sad end, calmly she lies
in the midst of water
I can almost here her breathing underground
her breath pierces the deafening noise of the city