Song
Alicia Ostriker

Some claim the origin of song
was a war cry（政治口号）
some say it was a rhyme
telling the farmers when to plant and reap
don’t they know the first song was a lullaby（摇篮曲）
pulled from a mother’s sleep
said the old woman

A significant
factor generating my delight in being
alive this springtime
is the birdsong
that like a sweeping mesh（网眼，圈套） has captured me
like diamond rain I can’t
hear it enough said the tulip

lifetime after lifetime
we surged up（汹涌澎湃） the hill
I and my dear brothers
thirsty for blood
uttering（发出，作出）
our beautiful songs
said the dog