Translated by Ouyang Yu
one horse, two horses
three four five six seven horses
one horse
the net-shaped horse
the transparent horse
from one empty door
to another empty door
the skin of the grass
rubbing against the belly
the horses on the slope
their belly shiny and smooth
the horses on the slope
with sunken backs
the blue sky light, the desires heavy
the horses on the slope
their eyes open with wild flowers
Based in Nanjing, China, Yu Kuichao's poetry has appeared in Otherland (No. 1, 1996).
About Ouyang Yu
Ouyang Yu came to Australia at the age of 35, and, by 55, has published 55 books of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, literary translation and criticism in English and Chinese languages, including his award-winning novel, The Eastern Slope Chronicle (2002), his collection of poetry in English, The Kingsbury Tales (2008), his collection of Chinese poetry, Slow Motion (2009), his book of creative non-fiction, On the Smell of an Oily Rag: Speaking English, Thinking Chinese and Living Australian (2008), his second novel, The English Class (2010), his book of literary criticism, Chinese in Australian Fiction: 1888 1988 (2008), and his translation in Chinese, The Fatal Shore (forthcoming in 2011).
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