ALL THE GRAINS GATHER by Lu You
ALL THE GRAINS GATHER
—Written on the Eve of The "Laba" Festival*
Lu You
On this day all the grains gather
in a pot. Mother lines them up together
like us seven little siblings in your younger days
on a little heated brick bed, seven china dolls from one kiln,
faces chapped, mama bathed us one by one until clean,
just like she washes the grains. This is the day
they reunite across four cold and warm seasons,
in one boiling pot minus the black beans.
No black beans this harvest, we planted other crops for younger brother;
he can’t come home, like last year.
Notes
*The Laba Festival is celebrated on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, when rice gruel or congee is eaten. The Festival is also called The End of the Year Offering of Meat Festival, a name which has its origins in hunting game that was cooked as sacrificial meat and then served at a family or communal gathering.
About the poet:
Lu You, male, is a poet native to Cangxian County, Hebei Province. He has created more than 12,000 poems to date. He has participated in the 1st Hebei Youth Poetry Session and the 1st Advanced Seminar for Chinese Internet Poets.