Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON ISSUING A RESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATE, by XUEFEI JIN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON ISSUING A RESIDENTIAL CERTIFICATE, by                    
First Line: This piece of paper with the seal on it
Alternate Author Name(s): Jin, Ha; Ha Jin
Subject(s): China; Tyranny & Tyrants


This piece of paper with the seal on it
shows you are a law abiding citizen.
Whenever a stranger appears in your neighborhood
you must report him to us.
If a neighbor of yours commits a crime
you must turn him in, or you'll be punished
as an accomplice -- either jailed
or sent away to build roads,
at least you'll lose a finger or an ear.
But if you inform on him, you'll be rewarded
like a soldier who killed an enemy.

Keep in mind you shouldn't have a large family,
which is hard for us to supervise.
Any household with more than two grown sons
will be taxed twice over.
At peace you work your fields and provide
labor whenever our emperor needs it;
when a war breaks out, by duty
you are a warrior and must fight with valor
-- that's your chance for nobility.
Also, you're not allowed to travel.
If you have to go somewhere, such as
to a funeral or on a pilgrimage,
you must have this certificate on you
and register wherever you stay.

In brief, with this piece of paper in hand
you and your four acres now own each other

First published in The Kenyon Review, Volume 22, #1, Winter 2000.
www.kenyonreview.org







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