The Desire to Sing after Sunset, a translation of Taiwanese poet Ami with interpreter Ingrid Fan, appeared in a print run of 1,000 copies. Poems and translations were presented with facing texts illustrated throughout by Ami’s artwork.
A colourful little parrot
lands on my elementary yellow hat.
I never thought he would die,
he is winged.
I can’t catch him even though my hands rise high.
He became rigid that winter.
At four o’clock
the pale yellow light
makes people sad.
My first pet.
I felt he loved me deeply;
he listened to my call,
flew to me after school.
I used rolls to make a little coffin,
dug several soup-spoons deep;
buried him close to the trees
where we talked.
The trees are now parking spaces.
I grow up gradually,
wave my own wings,
though I am past flying.
Modern Poetry in Translation, Transitions, Series 3 Number 18
Recordings
Hear ‘Cure’:
and ‘I walk on old bone street’:
Matt Bryden Poetry 