The Tale of a Bolt
Liang Xiaobin

With an icecold spanner
The rusty bolt is undone.
And there it lies on the mechanic's broad palm.

There's really no evading
The mechanic's inscrutable gaze.
The bolt,
In sympathy with my heart,
Trembles fearfully
On the man's palm.

I must confess
Corrosion has caused rust.
Even bolts are liable to confusion;
This one failed
To shine as expected.

The bolt awaits its verdict.
The mechanic looks squarely ahead.
Ahead lies a scrap-bin.
Shall I be cast away?
Or restored after a thorough cleansing?