I was delighted to have the opportunity to attend the book sharing event for Mr. Tony S. Hsu’s new book, Chasing the Modern. Reading it rekindled my admiration for Hsu Chih-mo’s writing and literary talent, and felt like a renewed encounter with poetry. After studying in Beijing for three years, I found myself returning to his work with a different perspective. Thoughts and emotions came rushing in, so I picked up my pen and began to write them down.
Longing—the neon flickers beyond the mountains.
The Brave mounts his lame, blind horse.
Seeking, seeking—
Habit—the campfire glimmers faintly in the night.
People wear ashen, weary faces.
Time slips, time slips—
I wander through the jostling crowd.
A follower of the Brave comes toward me:
"Why not chase that flickering neon?
Are you, too, content with this faint campfire?"
Why such haste? What do you seek?
I close my eyes and see the stars.