THOSE OF THE HOMELAND
Jiang Xiaoping (蒋小平)
The homeland, with ancestral bones,
Has paved bright rails of iron—
Stretching onward, ever onward,
From hearth to far-off lands.
The villagers have learned to forget:
To forget the graves, the rites of seasons,
To forget to greet the changing seasons,
To forget their own weariness.
Yet never can they quite forget
To call home every now and then—
Asking about the crops, worrying about family,
Chatting about daily life, inquiring after the village.
Before hanging up, they always remind:
“I’ll send money tomorrow—don’t be too thrifty.”
Shifting the phone from right hand to left,
As if shifting a heavy load of pain
From one shoulder to the other.
Yet tears already hang thick upon the branches—
Ah, at times, man is less than a tree.
Author Bio
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Jiang Xiaoping (蒋小平; also known by his pen name, Jiang Yibing) is a Chinese poet and essayist from Hengyang, Hunan. A member of the Chinese Writers Association, his work has appeared in leading literary journals such as Poetry Periodical (Shikan), Stars (Xingxing), Children’s Literature, Literary World, and Works. He is the author of poetry collections Awakening and Flavors, as well as the essay collection Pure Delights of the Human World. Rooted in the landscapes and memories of his hometown, his writing often reflects on the quiet beauty of everyday life, the passing of time, and the emotional bonds that hold communities together. His poems selected for The Bellwether Review continue this lyrical exploration of dusk, homeland, and love. He currently lives in Shenzhen, China.