ode to Jay Chou (a poem of sorts)
written: 6:52 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 04, 2004

1.
the children are malnourished
you take a spin in Russia
teach a girl the piano
pass on the magic wand
sustenance for the soul

2.
grandma smiles with pride.
it's the only award that you need.

3.
the piano is a voice
keeping me awake at night
dreaming a collective dream
of forbidden giggles and childish promises
its lilt soothes me like a lullaby
the cradle will not fall.
the children are malnourished
the piano fills them up.

4.
the piano.
you sit behind it.
fingers flying across ivory white.
fingers scurrying across yellowish brown.
lead to paper, skin to ivory,
the window opens and in streams the sun
the light bathes you in a glow
the morning song drifting
floating
gentle waves across borders
to reach your sacred scoresheets,
to reach hungry ears, malnourished souls.

5.
who could make a difference?
who could hold up a hand and catch straying bullets,
thwart missiles simply by standing in their way,
like a permeable malleable membrane?
answer: nobody.

6.
the battlefield transplanted
into the theatre in my head
a hand moves across the sky
connects telephone wires to conduct electricity
that keeps your piano permanently warm.
the mortars are far from home.
I hear them loudly when they explode.

7.
grandma lives in Taiwan.
you come back for a visit
and don't leave until she's sound asleep.

8.
you play the piano,
just for her,
and the malnourished children of the world.

August 3, 2004

***

The above was inspired by a few songs on Jay Chou's latest album, namely track #4, dedicated to his grandmother and track #10, a song essentially about war, its detriments, with a beautiful, haunting and poignant piano accompaniment in the background.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Jielun is wholly incapable of letting me down. Qi Li Xiang is a work of nothing less than brilliance. Time to let the awards flood.

before sunrise // before sunset


Previously:
- - Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017
I'm moving. - Sunday, Jul. 11, 2010
In all honesty - Tuesday, Jul. 06, 2010
What I want for my birthday... - Sunday, Jul. 04, 2010
On Roger's behalf. - Friday, Jul. 02, 2010