[crosspost from: https://piefed.social/c/ocpoetry/p/1588657/oc-guang-dong-language-guangdong-language]

In a quiet afternoon, walking through a serene park
Hearing the sounds of a conversation, the peace suddenly is broken
Between strangers I never met, yet the voice resonates
It is of a tongue I have long known since time immemorial

Its a language of love
Love that burns so hot, it is has casted a permanent shadow in my hippocampus

Its is the love from the woman who gave birth to me, whose voice of extreme decibels has created a ghost that trails me forever

“母親” (“Mother”)

It is the love from the man who donated fifty percent of biological matters which formed me, and is absent in my formative memories

“父親” (“Father”)

It is a love so filled with emotions, that I can’t wait to hug…

the blanket and go to sleep

Is there still sunlight tomorrow morning?

It is a language that upon hearing, immediately activates the amygdala,
transporting my soul into memories…

廣東 (Canton/Guangzhou) a city so vast and big…
it is a maze for which I have lost myself in

A maze of confusion and of betrayal
A betrayal of blood

A maze of the darkest hours of my life, of my childhood
Alone, embracing the darkness

Ah yes, “哥哥” (“older brother”) who just want to play with you, don’t mind the trauma he has caused in you
“細路仔係咁嘅啦，你心胸要闊啲，原諒佢” (“boys being boys, you have to be the bigger person, forgive him”)

Very lovely words, mother, thank you!

Oceans apart, I can still remember, that day
Under the red banner with five yellow stars
A land of tragedies
毋再見啦 Farewell, don’t meet again

(Didn’t proofread, not feeling good right now.)