Side

From Their World, Three Worlds by Dai Pan (潘岱). Poem 07.

(Side of the stage)

We have no name. You are our name.
Virtual beauty, tear them down, for the world.

(Tag behind the bathroom door)

The world is beautiful, they are, we are not.
No savior, no god, no…

(Arriving at school early, there's a note on the chair)

We are looking at you, there are no secrets here.
Put down your worries, take a good look at yourself.
Discern truth from lies, we bring to you,
Leave school, leave family, for dreams.

(Broadcast, playing at the school entrance)

Trust the government, trust the school,
Trust the science, trust the society.
Be loyal to parents, be loyal to teachers,
Be loyal to leaders, be loyal to the country.

(Voice from somewhere unknown)
Hope waits there, call it what you will,
I brought a flower from the real world,
No fake smiles can be found here.

We hold each other, we laugh together,
Joy from the end of time, so beautiful,
Join us, come to the new world.

(On the way home)

Join us. Join us. Join us.
Join us! Join us! Join us!

Cite as: Dai Pan, "Side," Three Worlds, Their World, poem 07, 2025. https://daipan.ink/their-world/side

Their World 07

Side

(Side of the stage)

We have no name. You are our name.
Virtual beauty, tear them down, // for the world.

(Tag behind the bathroom door)

The world is beautiful, // they are, we are not.
No savior, no god, no…

(Arriving at school early, // there's a note on the chair)

We are looking at you, // there are no secrets here.
Put down your worries, // take a good look at yourself.
Discern truth from lies, // we bring to you,
Leave school, leave family, // for dreams.

(Broadcast, playing at the school entrance)

Trust the government, // trust the school,
Trust the science, trust the society.
Be loyal to parents, // be loyal to teachers,
Be loyal to leaders, // be loyal to the country.

(Voice from somewhere unknown)
Hope waits there, call // it what you will,
I brought a flower // from the real world,
No fake smiles can be found here.

We hold each other, // we laugh together,
Joy from the end of time, // so beautiful,
Join us, come to the new world.

(On the way home)

Join us. Join us. Join us.
Join us! Join us! Join us!