I really like this one, since I practice 太極拳 taijiquan, or as Estima de Oliveira transliterates the Cantonese, "t'ai kêk." Older people practicing taiji in the park is a staple of urban life in Macau, Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan, and I enjoy watching it as much the poet does.
The 太極 taiji/t'ai kêk, or the "Supreme Ultimate," is a Chinese philosophical concept. It develops from 無極 wuji, or "no-limit," and gives rise to 陰陽 yin and yang. The Wikipedia page on taiji explains it decently enough.
DAS
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23
no andar
balbuciante
dos anos longos
os velhos
dobram-se
p'los joelhos
no gesto
largo
suave
como passe
de ballet
envolvem
o universo
no
t'ai kêk
cerram os olhos
impávidos
em longa concentração
coordenam os movimentos
lentos
em silêncio
de oração.
-----
23
with the halting
step
of long years
the old folks
bend
at the knees
in a
broad
smooth movement
like a ballet
passe
they embrace
the universe
in the
tai ji
their eyes close
unflinching
in long concentration
slow movements
coordinated
in the silence
of prayer.
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