Poetry

It's Time

It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
The Square belongs to everyone.
With your own two feet
It’s time to head to the Square and make your choice.

It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
A song belongs to everyone.
From your own throat
It’s time to voice the song in your heart.

It’s time, people of China! It’s time.
China belongs to everyone.
Of your own will
It’s time to choose what China shall be.

- Zhu Yufu, translated by A.E. Clark


Courtesy of Uncut - Free Speech On The Frontline


Zhu Yufu is a Chinese dissident poet.  Mr. Yufu was arrested in April, 2011 and charged in January, 2012 with crimes relating to subversion for writing and publishing this poem online.  The Guardian reports today via Reuters in Beijing that he has been convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison.  'References to a "square" might evoke memories among many Chinese people of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, though the poem did not mention it or the 1989 pro-democracy protests.  Prosecutors also cited text messages that he sent using Skype. There was no suggestion that the online chat service helped police to collect evidence.'

- o.s.r.



* Photo credit:  Courtesy of Enduring America, posted by Scott Lucas 2/20/2011, Police Take Away A Protester In Shanghai.