The Ghost Butterfly

• in in other languages

 

For U

 

The butterfly glided down in front of me

Your face paled

A bad omen

I painted blue-faced men wearing indigo tunics

Men from hell

And indulged the paintbrush

which splashed up colors

Blue tinting the ghost butterfly blue

You said the butterfly would bring bad luck

I don’t believe in destiny

I do not want to believe destiny

Arranges matters between the two of us

There is plenty to worry about

Let’s let our hearts be peaceful

Let’s look coolly on life

Invoking the ghost butterfly I painted men from hell

But the butterfly was confused when it saw me

I carelessly brushed my hand across my face

My hand covered with paint

The different colors streaked my cheek

Frightened

The ghost butterfly

Took flight

 

                                                                                                                                                   1996

(Translated by Hoang Hung & Joseph Duemer)