... the idea is from a lament-like song about seeking and memorial that always takes me into a bright, vague imaginary scene, which i tried to capture here.

This kind of vegetal transformation (or “metamorphosis”) of the departed is surprisingly common across cultures, a blend of romance and sorrow that i like very much. A bamboo here.

荡荡恁有一日，匄你走深山
Should you one day
Wander deep into the mountains

眙着我，你覅太奇怪，覅太奇怪
And see me there
Let it not surprise you

我已经化作一棵茅竹
I will have become a stalk
Among the bamboo grove

眙茅竹，着带伴手，还着黄酒
Should you come visiting
Bring some offerings
And also rice wine

茅竹生深山，茅竹生深山
The bamboo grows deep in the mountains

老早个事干全部悗记爻罢
And all that was will fade away

我宿山中睏着罢
I have gone into a long dream

六月六，炮烟飞，遁落个地方个许一间
At the beginning of a summer
In the place where firecrackers fell

翻译自 金承志《青牛吟》
Translated from Chengzhi JIN, Qing Niu Yin (Song of an old ox)