The Promise of Blue

Kazim Ali

What we wanted was to watch him silver fall 

 Cut the surface of the water and leave no bruise（擦伤，青肿） 

Every earth bound angel who was taught his body was a sin 

 Calculates in his head equations needed to sculpt the air 

As he aims from grim height for the promise of blue

Always smote by lightning, disobedient boys tumble in a tangle down 

 To drown in the well of others' rage or their own sorrow 

Thirst to again return skyward, unbloodied and held close 

But to leap is to know the body is the equation the sky has written 

 And around the body that launches space unfolds its shape of wings 

Blue water and blue air are the same substance and within 

 He turns into currents and tides surging in place 

Swims the endless distance down, soars sleek through the cold depth 

Now years after he still sings the eerie air as he walks along the shore 

 He still knows the secret—that at every moment in the body and breath 

One can still plummet and plunge and soar