The Middlewesterner

AFTER SOME LINES
FROM LI PO'S "CROSSING
CHING-MEN TO SEE
A FRIEND OFF"

Mountains fall
onto the plains.

The river flows
into wilderness.

The moon a mirror
crossing the sky.

We always love
our own place

yet here I am,
leaving it,

traveling so far
to see you off.

~

AFTER WANG WEI'S
"AUTUMN DUSK AT
A MOUNTAIN LODGE"

Empty mountain after rain.
Autumn evening, the air rising.

Moon among the pines,
water flowing over stones.

Girls return from doing laundry.
The fisherman's boat among the lotus.

Here and there the grass has withered.
O, friend, you don't have to go.

~

AFTER SOME LINES
FROM HSIEH T'IAO'S
"ROAMING THE EAST FIELD"

The birds scatter,
the last blossoms fall.

Done with drinking
this spring wine

I watch the mountain
keep turning green.

~

AFTER WANG PIN-CHIH'S
"ORCHARD PAVILION"

Flowers
astonish

the woods
and fish

the water.
I cast

my line,
my heart

content
to catch

fish,
or catch

nothing.

~

AFTER CHAN FANG-SHENG'S
"SAILING BACK TO THE CAPITAL"

The mountains
keep reaching
for sky.

The water
runs clear
and constant.

The pines
shine greener
than green.

I wake
to write
this poem.

My traveling
sadness
has lifted.

~