Just Before Turning Gray

 
We still haven't learned to learn.
Death breathes thick and fast upon our necks.
Yet we keep convincing ourselves—nothing will happen to us.


We know so much, understand so much.
That our knowledge might have flaws—
we're not used to knowing that.
Our understanding runs only as far as our thoughts.


Our neighborhood tea shop and prayer hall stay open.
New dangers are being discussed there.
You too should come, you're invited.
We're prospering. If you want to prosper, come right now!
Don't come showing us those childish statistical bogeymen.


Our courts are open—not of conscience, but of law.
Our offices run—commerce is such an urgent thing!
Hey brother, business only gets better when people are endangered!
Business has just started picking up, which means
the country's moving forward, we're happy. We have no time!
Our gaze is not toward petty death, but toward GDP.


When our schools close, we go on picnics.
Even in danger, this custom doesn't change.
We're rule-abiding by nature, moreover ritual-bound.
So God has special blessings upon us.
Please don't come bothering us with too much talk.


We're not afraid to die.
We've been afraid to live for so long...
we've been sitting here exhausted. Therefore,
there's no point frightening us with this ordinary virus.


We're terribly busy.
Whether drinking cow's urine kills the virus, or
if dream-received thankuni leaves will do the trick—
not understanding this, we're sometimes hesitant,
sometimes, thinking we understand, we appear with smiling faces, ready for battle.


Whether masks will work against the virus, or if we need Marx—
in the interest of knowing this perfectly, a life or two slips away from us.
Let life go if it goes, but we must know the right thing, right?
Otherwise how will we stop this virus?
Sir, we've been thirsting for knowledge since birth, that's why...!
Besides, what does it matter if one or two lives vanish like that!
I mean, what I was saying—just look at us a little, you'll understand everything!


No crowds allowed! This message
we're delivering to everyone by gathering crowds!
Nothing becomes important here without crowd-gathering!
To us, people's support matters more than people themselves.
Livelihood is a bit more vital than life!


We're truly not afraid.
God is with us.
We also have some people with us
who talk to God quite often.
Did you ever have anything like that?


We haven't learned to be disciplined.
We're not used to bowing our heads.
We were born to keep the door open
right until the moment death arrives at the doorstep.
Please don't come to bother us!...this chat session just got going!


We're doing well.
We'll keep waiting with smiling faces until death arrives.
We want to see who's greater—death? Or faith?