Let me go back to earth
1. Where everything grows
Let me go back to earth.
That´s where my beans grow.
That´s where my corns grow.
That´s where my tomatoes grow.
That´s where my potatoes grow.
That´s where my carrots grow.
That´s where my cucumbers grow.
That´s where my aubergines grow.
That´s where my pumpkins grow.
That´s where my marrows grow.
That´s where my melons grow.
That´s where my rice grow.
That´s where my wheat grow.
That´s where my apple trees grow.
That´s where my peach trees grow.
That´s where everything grows.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Like a leaf or a seed, buried deep into earth.
It´s warm down there.
Let me take a rest from this tiring life.
Let me take a rest from this cold winter.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
That's where my old wife is.
She's been waiting for me, you know.
Night or day, she's told me many, many times.
She´s made me a new coat.
She´s made me a new hat.
She´s made me a new shirt.
She´s made me a warm bed.
She´s made me a warm duvet.
She´s made me a warm pillow.
She´s made me love.
She´s cooked me my favourite meal.
And I love her cooking.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
That´s where Mum and Dad are.
Not so keen to see Dad, though.
I´m still scared of his walking stick.
But I miss my mum.
I miss her calling.
I miss her hug.
I miss her milk.
And I miss her cooking, too.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
That´s where my grand-parents are.
That´s where my grand-grand-parents are.
That´s where my ancestors are.
I hardly know them.
I've never seen them.
Though I´ve heard so much about them.
Dad said they protected me.
So I should show some respect.
I´d better listen to the old man.
Alright, I´ll go to see my granddad and grandmum.
I´ll go to see my grand-grand-parents.
I´ll go to see my ancestors.
I´ll go to show them my respect.
I´ll go to serve them food and wine.
I´ll go to give them their favourite toys.
I´ll go to give them some of my pocket-money.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Bury me.
Bury me.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Don´t let them take me.
Let me go back to earth.
My dog is there.
My cat is there.
My hens are there.
My cows are there.
My goats are there.
My buffalos are there.
My friends are there.
All my neighbours are there.
And that's where I´ve left my spade and hoe.
Let me go back to earth.
That´s where I'd like to be.
That´s where I should be.
That´s where I want to be.
That´s where I need to be.
No place for me?
Why not?
Why can't there be a tiny, tiny place for me?
Don´t set fire on me.
I beg you.
Please.
Bury me. Bury me. Bury me.
Please don´t set fire on me.
No, not them again.
In the past, they came from time to time.
Nowadays, they come all the time.
They say my time has come.
They talk to me.
They talk to my children.
They say they'll burn me.
But I didn´t harm anyone.
Did my dad harm anyone?
Not really except me.
A stick on my head or a kick on my ass.
It doesn´t hurt anymore.
Sometimes, he had a fight.
But nothing serious.
Did my grand-dad harm anyone?
Not that I know.
Any of my ancestors to blame?
Really, I didn´t hurt anyone, did I?
Except those chickens, or ducks, or rabbits, or pigs I ate
But everyone did it.
Why pick on me?
Let me go back to earth.
No, I´m not scared of worms.
They are fine.
I know them, especially the earthworms.
They are gentle and kind.
They promised they'll look after me
Jut as I had looked after them.
No. No. No. No. No.
I don´t want to go to the air.
It´s not the same.
It´s not the same.
It´s not the same.
They say it´s just the same.
But it´s not the same.
How can I make them understand it´s not the same?
Bury me. Bury me. Bury me.
Please don´t set fire on me.
Why do I have to live so long?
I wish I was dead.
But I´m afraid to be dead.
Not that I´m afraid to be dead.
I´m only afraid to be dead.
I wish I´m dead so I don't have to see them again.
I wish I´m dead so I don't have to hear them talk
about fire again.
Why didn´t I die earlier?
Why didn´t I die long time ago.
Why didn´t I die when my old wife was dead?
Why didn´t I die when my old friends were dead?
Why didn´t I die when the old men or women of the
village were all dead?
Oh, my god! Why didn´t you let me die?
Oh, my god! Why do I have to live this long?
Oh, my old god! Why do you let me grow so old?
I´m scared.
I´m scared.
I´m really scared.
I´m scared of fire.
I don't want to be roasted like a chicken or a rabbit,
or a lamb, or a pig.
Where is my son?
Where is my daughter?
Where is my grandson?
Where is my grand daughter?
Where are you, my children?
Where is everyone?
Don´t let them do this to me.
Let me go back to earth.
I beg you.. I beg you. I beg you. I beg you. I beg you.
Bury me. Bury me. Bury me.
Please don´t set fire on me.
2. This is not a funeral
This is not a funeral.
I don´t have to listen to what the village-chief say.
Not any more.
No, not any more.
This is not a funeral.
He just talks on and on and on.
Why do I still hear him?
I am dead, aren´t I?
This is not a funeral.
No one cries.
No one cries any more.
Not like the old days.
Cry your head off.
Cry your heart out.
Cry like a river after a summer rain.
3. Help
Don't just sit there.
Do something.
Please.
I beg you. I beg you. I beg you.
Or it´ll be too late.
Take me out.
Take me away.
Take me back to earth.
Help.
Help.
Help.
Help.
Help.
Help me.
Please help me.
Someone, anyone, help me.
Oh, my god! Where are you?
Please, please help me.
Let me go back to earth.
Stop this fire!
Stop this fire!
Stop this fire!
Stop this fire!
Will you stop this fire?
4. It´s too late
Have you ever seen a sheep die?
She just takes the knife with her throat and bleeds
without making a sound.
Have you ever seen a buffalo die?
He has so many tears in his eyes, like a well.
Have you ever seen a dog die?
She barks. She bites. She puts up a good fight.
Have you ever seen a pig die?
He screams to his last breath.
Have you ever seen a duck die?
After some one chops off her head,
She still stumbles to the river without a head on her neck.
Have you ever seen a rooster die?
After a knife slits his throat,
He just keeps flapping his wings as if he wants to fly.
It´s too late now.
I´m homeless.
I have nowhere to go.
A wild ghost, that's what they call me.
What should I do?
Where should I go?
5. I don´t have a cry
I cry.
I don't hear a thing.
I cry.
I don´t have a tear.
I cry.
I don´t have a cry.
Will some one take my soul, my wandering soul and
Put me back to earth?
That´s where I can have my peace.
Let me go back to earth.
I beg you, please.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Let me go back to earth.
Hunting in the City
By Li Yan
Translated by Li Yan, Jenny Putin and Richard Liu
The weather forecast warns of storms.
The bright sun shines down from a blue sky.
Cars converge on the City from all sides.
Waving their swords, the horsemen are galloping
In a text book.
Riding on tanks, the modern army
Roared into the history museum.
When we motorists come to town,
An eternal smile hangs on the face all day long.
Monkey troupes come down from the forest,
Head for the City,
Grab a VISA,
Pay their way home
And sunbathe under the lost tree.
Trenches of rush are built on the forehead.
Time rolls on as faxes strafe in the air.
Military casualties litter the streets.
Chieftans on the throne drain banquet cups.
Words, laughter and voices ring up $ and £.
An on-call beautican comes to repair your fading face.
Hunting for food but not for the winter.
Cheque books are jammed with meat and vegetables
Sealed in a secret mountain cave.
The drunks in mind stare at
A wild ox trapped by the come and go hunters.
Be kind, please. But the monkeys must rush. So just forget it.
When the sun sets in blood,
Apes go home with steak on their shoulders.
Monkeys have to stay, fighting a war that´s ended