The Yellow Flower Girl
The sun gradually melted down
to the other side of the mountain
leaving the evening sky
a burning orange.
The earth as if having gotten rid of
a heavy burden
blew out a gentle breeze.
The cowherd back from the hills
called the farmers to claim their cattle.
Suddenly in every corner of the village
a symphony began to play
with calves mooing, dogs barking
women calling their chickens and pigs
and their wandering rascals
home for dinner.
She came from the fields
a sea of yellow rape flowers
so bright they hurt your eyes.
She walked on the muddy path
sucking a yellow flower
between her white teeth.
She was the first born
named "begetting brothers"
for girls did not count.
For her name sake
her mother gave her two brothers.
One day she left the village
surrounded by bamboo trees
to work with machines.
Since then her mother's face
wore a smile of content.
Her daughter could now eat rice
not grown by her own hands.
When the yellow flowers bloomed again,
she was fired from plant.
The in-laws of her city seducer
came to seek a fight.
She sought refuge in the sea of the yellow flowers.
They searched for her
from one acre to another
but found themselves drowning
in the sea of yellow flowers.
When they finally got out
they were all dyed yellow.
They went away sneezing
and cursing the yellow flowers.
The yellow flowers withered
the rapeseeds had become ripe.
That year she had to marry
far away from home.
For three days
while male guests feasted
all female relatives came
to cry with her
to teach her all the ancient wisdom
of how to be an obedient wife
and filial daughter-in-law.
The following year after the harvest
she came to visit her mother
a jar of oil on one hand
a chicken on the other
and a new baby boy on her back.
Her mother's wrinkled face
wore a smile again.
Year after year
the yellow flowers bloomed
the rapeseeds were ground down
rich oil squeezed out
for all to consume.
The sun gradually melted down
to the other side of the mountain
leaving the evening sky
a burning orange.
The earth as if having gotten rid of
a heavy burden
blew out a gentle breeze.
The cowherd back from the hills
called the farmers to claim their cattle.
Suddenly in every corner of the village
a symphony began to play
with calves mooing, dogs barking
women calling their chickens and pigs
and their wandering rascals
home for dinner.
She came from the fields
a sea of yellow rape flowers
so bright they hurt your eyes.
She walked on the muddy path
sucking a yellow flower
between her white teeth.
She was the first born
named "begetting brothers"
for girls did not count.
For her name sake
her mother gave her two brothers.
One day she left the village
surrounded by bamboo trees
to work with machines.
Since then her mother's face
wore a smile of content.
Her daughter could now eat rice
not grown by her own hands.
When the yellow flowers bloomed again,
she was fired from plant.
The in-laws of her city seducer
came to seek a fight.
She sought refuge in the sea of the yellow flowers.
They searched for her
from one acre to another
but found themselves drowning
in the sea of yellow flowers.
When they finally got out
they were all dyed yellow.
They went away sneezing
and cursing the yellow flowers.
The yellow flowers withered
the rapeseeds had become ripe.
That year she had to marry
far away from home.
For three days
while male guests feasted
all female relatives came
to cry with her
to teach her all the ancient wisdom
of how to be an obedient wife
and filial daughter-in-law.
The following year after the harvest
she came to visit her mother
a jar of oil on one hand
a chicken on the other
and a new baby boy on her back.
Her mother's wrinkled face
wore a smile again.
Year after year
the yellow flowers bloomed
the rapeseeds were ground down
rich oil squeezed out
for all to consume.
