Recitation: I Love This Land

If I were a bird

I would sing with my hoarse voice

Of this land buffeted by storms

Of this river turbulent forever with our grief

Of these wrathful winds blowing ceaselessly 

And of the dawn, infinitely gentle over the woods…

-Then I would die

And even my feathers would rot in the soil

Why are my eyes always brimming with tears?

Because I love this land so deeply...

By Ai Qing, modern Chinese poet.