a musician played and sang Jiang Kui's "first song of middle Prelude of rainbow
skirt" for me yesterday. It was the first time I had heard that song played on
the guitar and found it was unbearably sad. Even though he doesn’t understand it
because of the cultural difference, just like I don’t understand western poetry.
"I think back to my youth wandering,
mountains and passes to the sound of the
flute,
the entertainment house under the Willows."
Some things can only be
understood through first-hand experience. Perhaps only people who move
frequently can understand Jiang Kui’s wandering life experience and frustrations
he laments, during his mid and later life.
I need to move again tomorrow because
the landlord wants to remodel. Today is my last night to be here. I wonder how
many more last nights I am likely to bear.