Firecrackers Cry Out To Get Rich Poem by Denis Mair

by Yan Li
Hundreds and thousands of firecrackers,
crying out to get rich
until their voices sound raspy like people
What else can they do?
Such is the concreteness of life
it needs liveliness
it needs a competitive edge
it needs explosive force
Once lit up by desire
there is no more staying quiet
Once lit up by desire
you split your seams with all the fiery ch'i in your body
Firecrackers of different prices are different in nature
roman candles and bottle rockets
staccato strings and cherry bombs
Once lit up by desire
you squeeze out whatever you have in you
and cover the ground with the litter of prosperity

(tr. by Denis Mair)