Thank You (By Yan Li)

by Yan Li
(translated by Denis Mair)

The state has occupied all geographical surfaces
I can only construct my inner world downward
The government has taken the biggest banquet table
The plate in my hands will have to serve as my table
Social institutions occupy all the skeletal joints
I must pound out a romantic mood with percussion of flesh
Schools have occupied the vantage point of education
All my theories can do is fight guerilla actions
My wife has occupied the facial expression of family life
All I can do is polish the mirror a little brighter
My children have occupied the future
All I can do is help them tie their shoes
For this kind of arrangement
All I can say is thank you