Perhaps
Wen Yiduo

Perhaps you are really too tired from crying;
Perhaps, perhaps you need a little sleep.
Then, tell the owl not to cough,
Frogs not to croak, hats not to fly.

Let the bright sun not fall on your eyes,
The clear breeze not brush your brows;
Let no one wake you.
Holding this umbrella of pine shade,
I shall guard your sleep.

Perhaps you can hear earthworms turning the soil,
Little grass roots sucking water;
Perhaps the music of these sounds you can hear,
Far prettier than man’s cursing.

Then keep your eyes shut tightly;
I’ll let you sleep, let you sleep.
Gently I’ll cover you with yellow earth
And tell the paper money to slowly drift.