Venice masks

Wednesday, 13 October 2021

The Chicken-seller - Han Dong

He's got the knack for killing chickens quick, so
He became a chicken-seller, that way
He doesn't need to kill people. Even though he acts
Calm and gentle, and never beats his wife
Taking off his wife's clothes is like plucking a chicken
Similar skills always overlap, just as
Cruelty and kindness are two sides of the same coin
He plucks, and she leisurely takes the money
And I feel that therein lies a kind of evil sweetness

Han Dong (韩东) (born 1961) China
Translated by Nicky Harman
Source: Peony Moon

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