Man Is the Only Animal

Yuan Changming

That Blushes. Or Needs To. – Mark Twain

 

Or that can remain on friendly terms, says Samuel

Butler, with the victims he intends to eat until he

Eats them; that shows interest in the sex lives of

 

Other animals; that is able to invent a story and

Spread it over time and space; that insists on its

Uniqueness, superiority and omniscience; that

 

Refrains from farting or fucking in the wild open; that

Tries to live not only in the moment, but also among

The pasts and futures; that is capable of making medicines

 

Machines and machinations; that can readily convert

Himself from one ism to another; that enjoys playing

Words along this line as Nelson in his ‘Funny Bird Sex.’

 

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Yuan Changming published monographs on translation before leaving China. Currently, Yuan edits Poetry Pacific with Allen Yuan in Vancouver. Credits include Pushcart nominations, Best of the Best Canadian Poetry and BestNewPoemsOnline, among others.