Translated from Chinese to English by Ouyang Yu

In the big courtyard where blood was rushing to high heaven

Two butchers, with their axes left to the side

Were playing chess

The toddler, who had just began walking, was chasing

A butterfly, with wings burnt, that could not fly high

Outside

There were people encircling the fighting cocks

Who threw their hats and yelled

The curved moon, shadowless, at the tip of the tower, was much experienced

And sad

People who had woken for the morning prayer

Began queuing up

The keeper had not yet arrived at the graveyard

He was helping a dog without ears or tail

Whose howling was second only to the forlorn weeping