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North of Northern Jiangsu

Ivan Yi-fan Hu · 2024.11.22

The imperial mask has no need

of swollen feelers

they say it feeds on silt

and toxins

and proliferates

so cut it with rivers

but beyond the rivers there are still rivers

the nameless place

can only be ringed with iron chains

chin and neck

above and below the pearl necklace

coarse homespun does not weave itself

seal it behind glass

and it will have value

ship it south

to be sold together

but like the rivers that once flowed here

you change course northward

there your price is

several times your price back home

Written on the evening of 22 November 2024

All Rights Reserved © Ivan Yi-fan Hu