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Post by Changming Yuan on Sept 21, 2007 20:17:29 GMT -5
it all began with an animal race Emperor Jade called to amuse himself and his earthly subjects... .
Rat yes, i admit betraying the cat as my only close friend but i won the race, with my head rather than my legs .
Ox to honor my contract with the yellow sun i eat green grass, yet give red meat to man .
Tiger as the only feared king of the thick jungle i am afraid and tired of my own shyness .
Rabbit with my cagey ears held so high i will not miss a sound of peace .
Dragon although my portraits hung lively above the clouds no human eyes have ever seen my authentic being .
Snake the moment i sloughed off my old slim self i forgot ever seducing any manhood in heaven .
Horse my body looks more masculine than a strong man and my heart feels more feminine than a tender girl .
Goat when i bleat towards the passers-by i never mean to speak in an other voice .
Monkey each time i try to find any lice in the corner of my mind .
i act like the humans outside the fence with barbed wire .
Roaster with my wings plumed with the feathers of night i can not fly but to crow loudly towards dawn .
Dog given my canine camaraderie and pack mentality i feel at home before, among or behind soldiers .
Pig i spend all my lifetime wisely to guard this single moment
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First appeared in dANDelion (2006) vol. 32, no. 2.
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