Thermos

From Still Life, Three Worlds by Dai Pan (潘岱). Poem 08.

Although I cannot merge into your world, I stand on the table,
My hard metal interior encased in the exterior, in white.

Already bearing many scratches, born from reliance and contact,
Even fallen, I refuse to be seen as broken, asking nothing in return.

I stand on the dining table, resisting firmly, persevering,
Even as all my flaws are overshadowed by the price tag on my body.

Accepting sounds from the surroundings,
None compare to the painful sigh within me.
I know those water droplets condensing in the seal, striking my body,
But I have no choice, I still need to protect, preserve all their warmth.

Cite as: Dai Pan, "Thermos," Three Worlds, Still Life, poem 08, 2025. https://daipan.ink/still-life/thermos

Still Life 08

Thermos

Although I cannot merge into your world, // I stand on the table,
My hard metal interior encased in the exterior, // in white.

Already bearing many scratches, // born from reliance and contact,
Even fallen, I refuse to be seen as broken, // asking nothing in return.

I stand on the dining table, // resisting firmly, persevering,
Even as all my flaws are overshadowed by the price tag // on my body.

Accepting sounds from the surroundings,
None compare to the // painful sigh within me.
I know those water droplets condensing in the seal, // striking my body,
But I have no choice, // I still need to protect, preserve all their warmth.