Bayroot Pool by Wang Wei*, Tang dynasty
At springtime, the pool deep and wide,
Gathers waiting for small dinghy's return.
Lolling green bayroot rejoins,
Willow strands sweep apart again.
*Loved natural scenery, multi-talented as a painter and musician. It was said that his poems contain paintings and his paintings contain poems.
The Chinese word 'ping' is much more poetic than the English word 'duckweed'.
Wilderness Zoo
No. 2 - Monkey Drives a Car
A free body locked up in a wooded mountain,
At the front of the car, pretending to be a driver.
Round about a short loop of light rail tracks
Bearing loads of kids on slow turning wheels.
Sad bored expression with no one to talk to,
Crazy wild beast cannot be tamed.
Unable to take the noise, stretches and falls asleep:
Sleeping soundly, dreaming, on another plane of consciousness.
Sunday, October 04, 2015
Sunday, September 20, 2015
At thirty
Picking Water Lilies Lyrical Poem by Tang dynasty poet Wang Canling 698-765
Lily pads and silken dress trimmed the same color.
Lotuses separate towards the face on two sides.
Meandering course, can't see the middle of the pond.
Hear singing then realize someone has come.
When Wang was thirty, he became an imperial scholar and was the palace librarian. Later on, he did business and was demoted to the country after falling out of favor. He was eventually murdered by the governor of that province.
Wilderness Zoo
No. 1 - Fierce wild bird
High soaring, recall chasing imaginary prey.
How did you wind up in this prison?
Feed overflowing, tasty pecking fullness.
Nest suspended, shiny feathers thick.
Inside: all angry and sad, mixed up.
Across vision, hubbub fades into emptiness.
Flap wings, several times, thinking about flying away,
Perhaps break free through the spanning net.
Thirty years ago, I had visited the zoo. This time, I took my wife with me. More or less, the scenery has remained the same, though my feelings are quite different.
Lily pads and silken dress trimmed the same color.
Lotuses separate towards the face on two sides.
Meandering course, can't see the middle of the pond.
Hear singing then realize someone has come.
When Wang was thirty, he became an imperial scholar and was the palace librarian. Later on, he did business and was demoted to the country after falling out of favor. He was eventually murdered by the governor of that province.
Wilderness Zoo
No. 1 - Fierce wild bird
High soaring, recall chasing imaginary prey.
How did you wind up in this prison?
Feed overflowing, tasty pecking fullness.
Nest suspended, shiny feathers thick.
Inside: all angry and sad, mixed up.
Across vision, hubbub fades into emptiness.
Flap wings, several times, thinking about flying away,
Perhaps break free through the spanning net.
Thirty years ago, I had visited the zoo. This time, I took my wife with me. More or less, the scenery has remained the same, though my feelings are quite different.
Monday, September 07, 2015
Trees playing dress up
Song of the Willow by Tang dynasty poet He Zizhang, 677-744
A tall tree all dressed up in jade green.
Ten-thousand strands flowing down like bright-green silk streams.
We don't know: who cut these leaves so thin?
Like scissors, the February spring breeze.
Poet He attained Jingsi level of scholars. He was Secretary of something and was good at writing poetry, calligraphy, and comedian. Popular and admired among the scholars. He was a famous drinking. When he retired, Emperor Tang Ming Huang sent him a poem. And the prince bid him farewell.
Daban Crane Tavern
No. 1
Pan pines stand throughout old Crane Tavern.
Why, like swallows, are you so busy renovating?*
Because we have new guests coming for far off countries,
Now this cold yard will become a bustling place.
*Pan as in bonsai
*This old tavern, now the Japanese government have turned into a tourist spot for entertaining foreigners.
A tall tree all dressed up in jade green.
Ten-thousand strands flowing down like bright-green silk streams.
We don't know: who cut these leaves so thin?
Like scissors, the February spring breeze.
Poet He attained Jingsi level of scholars. He was Secretary of something and was good at writing poetry, calligraphy, and comedian. Popular and admired among the scholars. He was a famous drinking. When he retired, Emperor Tang Ming Huang sent him a poem. And the prince bid him farewell.
Daban Crane Tavern
No. 1
Pan pines stand throughout old Crane Tavern.
Why, like swallows, are you so busy renovating?*
Because we have new guests coming for far off countries,
Now this cold yard will become a bustling place.
*Pan as in bonsai
*This old tavern, now the Japanese government have turned into a tourist spot for entertaining foreigners.
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