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I met Grandfather at a Taiwanese bookstore. For some reason, We were the only ones staring At the decrepit Poetry section In this, brand new Four-story library. He was grinning as if The teeth in his mouth Was real again. And I couldn't help but Smile with him too, this Old man Who stuck his hands in His pockets and slouched Over books just like I once did. Who couldn't speak a word of English, but who Over and over again muttered The name "Auden," As to signal to me That he knew exactly what Was going on here. Nodded vigorously at me— Told me he'd met him once, before. In a book. Probably in Cantonese— I wonder how it sounded to him? I wonder how I sounded? Peering over him Like a sprightlier shadow, Also muttering to himself "Auden, Auden," As if trying to remember. I think, When I grow up, I would like to be An old man someday.
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Jul 29, 2014
Jul 29, 2014 at 8:41 PM UTC
"Grandfather" was in the poetry section of a cantonese bookshop
I met Grandfather at a Taiwanese bookstore. For some reason, We were the only ones staring At the decrepit Poetry section In this, brand new Four-story library. He was grinning as if The teeth in his mouth Was real again. And I couldn't help but Smile with him too, this Old man Who stuck his hands in His pockets and slouched Over books just like I once did. Who couldn't speak a word of English, but who Over and over again muttered The name "Auden," As to signal to me That he knew exactly what Was going on here. Nodded vigorously at me— Told me he'd met him once, before. In a book. Probably in Cantonese— I wonder how it sounded to him? I wonder how I sounded? Peering over him Like a sprightlier shadow, Also muttering to himself "Auden, Auden," As if trying to remember. I think, When I grow up, I would like to be An old man someday.
jedd-ong
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Jul 29, 2014
Jul 29, 2014 at 8:41 PM UTC
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