My immortal melody 

When they ask me

I might take shelter in silence.

I might shed a tear

I might clink my glass to get everyone’s attention 

And yet…. 

I would say, he was a wider-than-life dream.

His dream spanned realms beyond sight,

yet the gravest disappointments assailed his heart.

Neither his scrawny horse is strong enough. 

Nor does his wooden sword do any good.

The songs of enthusiasm, too.

have fallen silent, for it is useless.

I would say that the wind has defeated his resolution,

As swayed by his whims.

His ship is lost

And the sea, so they say, is treacherous.

Who can foretell his death?

And the shark is open-mouthed

I will say, the vast wilds still bear 

the traces of his footsteps.

Planting false hope.

Here, a banner.

There, a surreal painting

Even on the mirage 

Hummed the murmur of the water

I’d say he was a mythical being.

Perhaps only in the imagination.