Ai Qing: Notice of the Dawn

Ai Qing: Notice of the Dawn

For the sake of my prayer

Arise, O poet

And tell them

that what they have waited for is coming

That I have come with the dew

By the light of the last star

I come from the east

From the sea of raging waves

I will bring light to the world

And warmth to mankind

Through your integrity. I come from the east

From the raging sea

I bring light to the world

And warmth to mankind

By the mouths of your righteous men

Please carry my message

Inform mankind, whose eyes are burning with longing, and the cities and villages far away, which are in misery,

And ask them to come and welcome me. Herald of the day, bringer of light

Open all the windows to welcome

Open all the doors to welcome

Please sound the siren to welcome

Please blow the trumpet to welcome

Let the scavengers come to clean the streets

Let the carriers come to remove the trash

Let the laborers walk the streets with a wide stride

Let the vehicles walk with a wide stride

Let the laborers walk with a wide stride

Let the laborers walk with a wide stride

Let the laborers walk with a wide stride

Let the vehicles walk with a wide stride

Let the vehicles flow through the squares in brilliant procession

Let the villages also wake up from their damp mist

Open their hedges to welcome me

Let the village women open their chicken coops

Let the farmers bring out their oxen from the corrals

And inform them through your warm mouth

That I have come from over the mountains, from over the forests

That I have come from over the mountains, from over the forests

And that I am a man of the world, a man of the world, a man of the world, a man of the world. And ask them to clean the sunny fields

And the patios that are always dirty

Open the windows that are covered with flowers

Open the doors that are decorated with spring scrolls

Wake up the attentive women

And the men that snore

Ask the young lovers to get up too

And the sleepy maidens

And the young men that are in love

And the young men that are in love with you. The sleepy maiden

Please wake up the sleepy mother

And the babe by his side

Please wake up everyone

Even the sick and the mothers in labor

Even the aged

And those who groan in their beds

Even the wounded in the wars of righteousness

And the refugees who have been displaced from their homelands

And those who have been displaced from their homelands

And those who have been displaced from their homeland

And the women who are in the wars of righteousness

And those who have been displaced from their homelands

I will give them comfort

Wake up all those who love life

Workers, craftsmen, and painters

Let the singers welcome us with their songs

With the sound of the grass and the dew

Let the dancers welcome us with their dances

And with their morning dresses of white mist

Let the dancers welcome us with their dancers. Their morning clothes of white mist

Please call those who are healthy and beautiful to wake up

And say that I am coming soon to knock on their windows

Please be faithful to the poets of time

And bring mankind news of consolation

Please prepare them for a welcome, please prepare all of them for a welcome

I am coming when the rooster crows for the last time

Let them gaze into the heavens with devout eyes

I will give the most gracious light to all who look for me

Tell them, while the night is almost over

that what they have waited for is coming