Window

From Their World, Three Worlds by Dai Pan (潘岱). Poem 10.

I think my wife has gone crazy. Recently,
She keeps emphasizing what they are watching outside the window.
They? It's truly laughable, what "they" and "us"?
Another reason for your lies? I thought,
I check every day, the surveillance cameras in each room,
Nothing is there.

Outside the window is complete silence, not a sound,
Peace, with black that has no shape, form, or substance.
Nearby trees casting shadow of leaves,
Distant houses with dimmed lights.
Yet she claims she can hear singing?
Blowing the cold wind,
I can't hear anything outside.
She must be crazy.

My son told me he saw many people beside the path,
In the forest, many eyes looking at him, behind the trees.
I dare not believe it,
What has that crazy woman taught him?
What trees, what people?
There are no trees on his way home, no small paths.
He must have wandered off somewhere to play, then lied.
That crazy woman birthed nothing but a worthless, lying brat!
I look outside the window, what's wrong with this family,
what is actually outside that makes them so worried.

They? They.
Who are they?
Heavens, who are they!

Cite as: Dai Pan, "Window," Three Worlds, Their World, poem 10, 2025. https://daipan.ink/their-world/window

Their World 10

Window

I think my wife // has gone crazy. Recently,
She keeps emphasizing what they // are watching outside the window.
They? It's truly laughable, // what "they" and "us"?
Another reason for your lies? I thought,
I check every day, the surveillance cameras // in each room,
Nothing is there.

Outside the window is complete silence, // not a sound,
Peace, with black that has no shape, // form, or substance.
Nearby trees casting shadow of leaves,
Distant houses with dimmed lights.
Yet she claims she can hear singing?
Blowing the cold wind,
I can't hear anything outside.
She must be crazy.

My son told me he // saw many people beside the path,
In the forest, many eyes looking at him, // behind the trees.
I dare not believe it,
What has that crazy woman taught him?
What trees, what people?
There are no trees on his way home, // no small paths.
He must have wandered off somewhere to play, // then lied.
That crazy woman birthed nothing but a worthless, // lying brat!
I look outside the window, // what's wrong with this family,
what is actually outside // that makes them so worried.

They? They.
Who are they?
Heavens, who are they!