The Middlewesterner

AFTER LIU TSUNG-YUAN'S
"RIVER SNOW"

All these mountains
and no birds.

All the trails
and no one on them.

Here, an old man --
hat and raincoat, boat --

fishing the cold river
in snow, alone.

~

AFTER RWAN JI'S
"SPRING FEELINGS"

I'm sleepless
tonight. I rise
and play my guitar.

I can see the moon
through the curtains
and breeze rustles

my clothes. Somewhere
a lone goose calls.
Birds cry out

in the dark woods.
Then I'm pacing,
wondering what

do I want
alone here with
my wounded heart.

~

AFTER BAI JUYI'S
"NIGHT SNOW"

I am surprised
by how cold

my pillow
and covers

are, and by
brightness at

the window.
Tonight's snow

is heavy
and sometimes

I can hear
the hard crack

of trees out
there snapping.

~

AFTER BAI JUYI'S
"SPRING SLEEP"

Soft pillow, warm covers,
he's still in bed.

The sun is at the door,
the curtains not yet open.

A green taste in the air.
Spring comes even

while you're sleeping.

~

AFTER BAI JUYI'S
"ON THE LAKE (1)"

Two monks sit
playing chess

on the mountain.
The shadow

of a tree
marks their board.

Neither monk
notices.

Sometimes you
can hear them

make their moves.

~