LA LANTERNA Poem by Arjen Duinker

Is it cruel to eat,
To eat what someone makes up,
Who has come from the mountains
To trade a raw flower?

Is it cruel to drink,
To drink what someone pours,
Who never in a kitchen corner
Dreams of truth and lies?

I called home, this morning,
Hugged my wife, whispered
In my daughter's ear:
'Have fun, my love, have fun'

And felt proud
Like the city around me
When a bird in the distance
Repeated my words.

Is it cruel to laugh,
To laugh with Yang Lian about suicide,
Jokes with secret policemen and shops,
Mongolian songs, crocodiles and self-conceit?

Four hundred streets ran up to the sea.
Some started at a table,
Others set off from a chair.
Dustcarts and scooters tore across
Zebra crossings, while a black sky
Repeated our words.