“I Am a Fish with Seven-Second Memory” poem by He Taiji

Famous Chinese director, music producer and spiritual poet

World Memory Heritage The Only Female Inheritor of Dongba Culture, International Renowned Writer & Poet. Internationally acclaimed bilingual writer, poet and translator, member of the Chinese Writers Association. The only female inheritor of UNESCO-listed Dongba Culture, International Disseminator of Dongba Culture and practitioner of Chinese culture’s global outreach. Winner of the Italian Francesco Giampietri International Literary Award, President of Lanxin Samei Academy and Dean of Yulong Wenbi Dongba Culture Academy.

Eva Lianou Petropoulou
Αποκλειστικη Eκπρόσωπος για την Ελλάδα για την προώθηση της πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς – Dongba Culture Κίνα

I Am a Fish with Seven-Second Memory

In waters clear yet faintly blurred

I am a fish with seven-second memory
Gliding through time’s quiet dream
Each second a fresh beginning to see

First second
I meet a ray of light
Breaking through waves that block its way
Like golden threads soft and bright
Gilding my curious ignorant gaze
I flick my tail chase that glowing streak
Believing it’s the path I’ll always seek

Second second
I find a coral grove
A fairyland of hues bright and bold
Red as fire pink as dawn’s soft glow
Swaying beneath the waves fair to behold
I weave through them lose my way
Lost in this splendid enchanted display

Third second
I touch a waterweed
Its tender leaves around me curl
A gentle caress a warm embrace
With the coolness of the underwater world
I dance around it light and free
Savoring this moment’s joy and glee

Fourth second
I hear my companions’ call
Floating softly through the water’s hush
A song from afar a tune for my soul
Calling me back to their gentle rush
I swim fast toward their familiar sound
To play to wander safe and sound

Fifth second
I scent food’s fragrant breath
A tempting aroma drifting all around
A secret lure a promise of life
Making me search with eager hungry bound
I dart straight to where the scent takes flight
Gulping down the power to live to fight

Sixth second
I feel the current’s flow
Carrying me through the water’s breast
A warm embrace an invisible wing
Showing me scenes beyond my quest
I drift with the tide unbound unchained
Enjoying moments unrestrained

Seventh second
Memory fades like foam
All that has passed is gone erased
I am that ignorant little fish once more
Lost in the endless boundless space
Yet I grieve not nor do I stray
For next second brings a new bright day

I am a fish with seven-second memory
Swimming through forgetfulness and novelty
Each seven seconds is a rebirth
Each encounter a pure sweet mystery
I cling not to past nor fear the future’s tide
But cherish each ripple here now beside

In this vast and mysterious sea
I am a happy fish seven seconds free
With fleeting memory I write eternal rhyme
In time’s long river
peaceful and sublime