Upwards and onwards

A Sentiment

Severe winter passed, snow just clearing up.

Faintly seen spring light: a thread of brightness.

Butterfly dance, flowers bloom: know that spring is here.

Sunset years, old folks add another to their age.

For Mr. Wang, going to Egypt

Float the ocean* not because your way cannot be met.

Green clouds** planning your future ten-thousand miles.

Will you not glorify your ancient country?

***Surely new poems will be sent farther and wider.

Beside the Pyramids, shadows of palm trees abound.

On the bank of the Nile, ripples of water run clear.

We both desire to uphold the beauty of our homeland.†  

Big Bie Mountain†† range is perfectly suited for our cities. 

*floating on the ocean is a metaphor for living

**green clouds is a metaphor for career

†Mr. Wang came from a long line of scholars, a family of great poets

††Lima (the name of his house) was near the mountain in my region

Vast Waters

Snow Song*

Last evening, flying snowflakes cast shadows on lace curtains.
Now the sun shines everywhere, the ground without blemish.
Pure and bright, subtle fragrance, form a pretty sight.
As glorious as standing in a faerie land.
Trees on fire, silver flowers, beauties far and wide,** 
Flitting birds, noiseless, like colorful clouds at sunset.
Earthly complicated world affairs washed clean,
Pure heart, peacefully pass the years of life.

*In 1983, it snowed a lot and many storms throughout the winter.
**tree on fire, flowers are silver = very pretty scene

From Chapter 8: Deep Marsh

I thought I will retire in Taiwan but somehow I was sent to Japan again. At first I stayed in a hotel, later on my friends helped me find a rental. The street I lived on was called Deep Marsh. My landlord was a retired Japanese naval general. After he retired from the navy, he rented out his room. The hostess was a very good housekeeper and wife. Everywhere it was neat and tidy and pretty. They had a son and daughter. Their son worked in a factory and left the house early and came home late. The daughter is married with her own family, she visits her parents very often.

Looking at Okinawa Island from faraway

Pilot points out, there's old Okinawa.
Several mountain ranges, floating on the ocean.
Looking west, smoke and waves, endless green.
Where sky and water meet, divine homeland.

I flew from Taiwan to Japan, the pilot announced, we're flying over Okinawa, and he could see China mainland.

Beneath

For your review

Inspired to write three or two pieces of rough poetry.
Like flecks in the inkwell, commonplace:
Please chop freely, do not hold back.
I wrote this casually, don't let me think my broom is the best.*

*Bi zhou zi zen = my broom is the best, i.e. most people think what they wrote is the best.

Greenlake

No. 2
Over the sky, cables stretched, the big bridge spans.
Under the bridge, a light boat, the water's face smooth.
Turn our heads to look up at the moon in the sky.
People crossing the bridge look like they're in the center of the moon.

Several people went to row boats together. Three other couples and us, after eating dinner, we rowed boats, people were singing and talking. There was beautiful moonlight shining on the water, it was so pretty, we decided to write poems.