Turandot

1

Aches and cries born in blood
rise with the moon. Shouts
and sobs give way to silent tears.

Liù appears, faithful to a smile.
Calàf knowing and not knowing
her love in the moon’s silence,

Unmoved by death or jeers,
swayed only by his rising blood
though Liù is love strikes the gong.

2

Turandot a reborn Princess Lou-Ling
enacts revenge on presumptive princes
who would conquer in the name of love,

Knowing not knowing in her armour
the trumpets’ blare barely disguise
a hairline crack on a countdown

To the one named Calàf, in love,
one, two, three, striking with wit:
in Hope, through Blood, on Turandot!

3

Can anyone sleep with the name
knocking insistent as a pulse
on however barricaded a door?

Liù’s sacrifice the first battering
and then Calàf’s relinquishment,
Now you know my name!

Eyes open now, only complete
sacrifice can reveal the true name
known at dawn: Turandot is love.