the light
by Xujie (Jeffrey) Cheng
audio: read by the author
When you walk under my window,
Bless me,
Because the lights are still on.
The light is on —
In the darkness of the night,
It’s like a bit of a drifting fishfire.
You can imagine my cabin,
Like a gust of wind, a leaf boat.
But instead of sinking,
Because the lights are still on.
The light is on —
When the curtains cast a shadow,
Which means I’m a very old man,
My body will age and my back will bend.
But it is not my heart that is old,
Because the lights are still on.
The light is on —
With such a fiery love,
To answer greetings from all sides;
The light is on —
With such great pride,
Despising the oppression of both sides.
Ah, when does a lamp have a distinct character?
Ever since you started to understand me.
Because the lights are still on,
Bless me,
When you walk under my window…
Pressure, a painting by Sewon Myung (grade 11) →
Xujie (Jeffrey) Cheng (grade 11)
bio
My name is Xujie (Jeffrey) Cheng and I’m a junior. In my free time, I like playing the piano. I like to feel the fun that music brings me. At the same time, I also like to help the residents of the community. I will go to the shopping center around the community every Sunday to pick up garbage. I hope to make a small contribution to the world through my own efforts.
what motivated you to write this piece?
I often felt anxious in my junior year, but I was not willing to let my emotions defeat me. So I put my mood and hope into a poem, to encourage myself.
what artists and/or writers inspired or influenced your work?
Walt Whitman is the writer who inspired me. His works are basically based on the free verse. I modeled my poem after his form.
what message do you hope to convey to the reader through your piece?
Through my work, I hope to give hope to my peers who used to be anxious like me and help them get through the difficulties in learning.
Expressions 