Enemy Poem by Kong Yin

Barely did I jump onto my horse
when behind me chased his fatwa;
with my heart of a child I hurried along,
as arrows of sorrow he launched.

When I was lost
he cornered me where I most loathed to be -
in a herd of meek grazing sheep -
no voices, no thoughts.

When I fell in love
he stepped in again,
compelling me to wander aimlessly
between love and lust.

With all my weapons I resisted him:
dreams, youth, conscience,
but he fought back with his ingenious arms –
money, fame, pleasure.

I shielded my chest with poetry
but he kicked out my feet with scorn.

At last, I revealed my trump card – a smile
and he responded with illness.

The moment the candle of my life
is snuffed out
my savage war with Death concludes.