Boyhood Buoys (3): Secret Tryst

I never understand the taboo of my village school
But all boys avoided speaking to girls, and vice versa

Nevertheless, whenever I felt the real urge to
See my girl in private, I would hum aloud while

Walking out of our classroom, and in the evening
She and I would meet behind a low sand ridge in the

Dried riverbed. Watching the summer stars in
Innocent silence, we would sit for a while deep in

Each other’s arms until we departed in equal silence
Even without hitting upon the idea of a real kiss

Her name was Chen Yeqiong, a tall, slim and pretty
Fellow villager, with a birthmark above her right lips

That’s when we were in grade eight; that’s as early
As half a century ago, on the other side of the world