20" x 16", 1999.
Graphite, Elian script.
Link to final version of artwork
Transliteration
from Zoraia Li
by C. C. Elian
Don't ask me
what I know, only
I saw it all
happen, the reality
and the show.
The visions of
purity's evil
boldly chastened
too greatly would
sudden grasses
and royal bloody
roses grow.
Decay sprang in
one black day
but only the victors
gladden, for not even
death could say
in this merging
is my passion, truly
I prefer the quiet
natural way.
When the eagle
rides the kingdom
fall like rain drops
into dew and crystal
spray leaving the
drinker maddened falsely
free to say the
servants gladdened for
what their children pray.
Never such has the
crashing stopped,
those with greed
laden lust late
down to the heart
and limbs of infants
whose first reach first
gave smile, their
innocent joy awaited
but never followed.
A future laced in bitter
remembering so soft
the hope then dropped
then borrowed, a
murmuring stretch
a road to silent
forgotten morrow.
