Paper People

by Na Ye
trs. by Chen Xiaoyuan

I folded us out of paper
One got old, the other
got old, too
Unable to do anything else
In those years, we consumed too much hidden passion

I exhaled warm air, and a courtyard appeared
I called woof-woof, and a puppy came
I sowed sunflower seeds, and green peas grew
I held a tea-leaf
and a tea garden showed
I said, hey, and you came along
happier than the magpie at the door
— in that place faraway

Unable to do anything else
we smoked, drunk, kissed while taking a walk —
wrinkles on our foreheads
spirit in the wrinkles

When God recognised us
He turned the paper people back into pieces of paper

It is not a heart-breaking narration
— we’ve talked about it. I will grow again, plump up, and meet
you.