A Way Station Visited By Gods Poem by Shaojun Li

A few wooden cabins.
A small pool of light.
Small as an ant, I'm stranded in this nameless way station
in the depths of Hulunbeier grasslands,
alone in the chill, but in peace.

Behind me, early winter night closes in, brutal as a tiger;
farther on, a road extends, bold and deserted;
farther on, Argun river flows, sluggish,
a white ray slicing the darkness;
farther on, pale birches stand trim and boundless.
the vast wilderness dull and clear;
farther on, stars spangle in silence
against the soft blue night;
farther on in the infinite north reside gods.


(transl. by Joan Xie & Sam Perkins from Chinese)