An Apology for Existence

by Wu Xiangyang
     trs. by Fan Jinghua

I had once recited your body,
And therefore you’ll exist in my recitation,
The same as the wind buoys up the leaves,
And they exist in the wind.

Breasts exist in fondle,
Teeth exist in chewing,
And a lake will not exist if it’s never
Been put into a cup.

Chengdu does not exist,
If it has not been laid down
In the carefully folded
Rains.