This story is short.
They broke the hands
Of the pianist.

Broke them
In the name of World Revolution
And for the sake of a Bright Future.

They say,
If gods are to be fed
There must be a sacrifice.

And the pianist's
Broken hands
The only proof of loyalty
If a human can ever pledge loyalty
To a voracious god.

Even though I'm not
Either Chinese
Our the pianist
Liu Shikun,
I know a thing our two
About idols
And idoltry.

Translated by: Margita Gailītis, 'Latvian literature", Latvijas Literatūras centrs