Two moments in time

Spontaneous Stroll by Yuen Mei* of the Ching dynasty, 1716-1797

A spontaneous stroll down the western path:
One orchid** floret blooming.
Who first announced the news?
Otherwise were the bees arrived.  

*A good county official, kind to the civilians. When he retired, he returned home to take care of his mother, and built a study for himself called Pleasing Garden. He taught students writing, and they called him Mr. Pleasing. He traveled all around in the south of China.

**orchids characterize subtlety and reservedness


Tokyo Midsummer

Not drunk, no flowers, eyes only awake.
Gradually see the great earth head into darkness.
Willow strands, moon rising, hazy foggy white;
City outskirts, mountains stretching, shadowy gloomy green.
Blazing heat, steaming clouds, wind gusts hot;
Floating fragrance, circling edges, water flows sweet.
Weak tea, tastes thin, cheap commonplace drink:*
Luyu classic, no need to study deeply.

*those sent to Japan from China had low salaries

Fisherman

Big Fish by Wang, a Yuen dynasty (Mongolian)

Stronger than a turtle,
Shouldering gales and chop,
On my back a light burden, the faerie island.*
Ten-thousand miles of evening sun satin, a blanket tall--
Inadequate space to turn over, the Eastern Sea too small--
Taigong: how will you catch me?**

*there is a myth that says the faerie island is moved around on the backs of fifteen turtles sent by the Sea of God.
**Zhang Taigong was a famous retiree fisherman


Laihu Inside Passage Scenery, in response to my friend Guo Zesen's poem about Zhang's birthday

Curving winding Inside Passage, steam ships cross.
Pacing rhythm new poems, bursts of exclamation. 
Erupting sunrise, chill frost, a few high-flying geese;
Welcoming spring, calm waves, a flock of sea gulls.
Pale-green shirt, gazing up, prospective outlook optimistic;
Red sleeves, playing around, laughter noise harmonious.
The Laihu scenery now is changed from before:
Most regrettably, no more is heard the fisherman's song.

This and the Jianghu Cherry Blossom poems were my contribution to my college class 40th reunion journal. The classmate collecting poems requested they be composed impromptu.

Multiple metaphor

Oriole Shuttle by Liuo Kezhuang, a Song dynasty patriot

Throw the shuttle, darting through the tall willow tree,
Calling calling over and over, making the sound of the loom.
Luoyang* March flowers like shiny satin--
How much effort will such weaving require?

*a big city


Jianghu Cherry Blossom

No. 2

Observing new cherry blossoms, like they're smiling.
Suddenly, bright red drops scatter all around.*
No change in bright colors**, don't be shocked.
These flowers used to be high up in the branches, in full bloom.***

*The Japanese government changes a lot. 
**figurative of the emperor
***The prime minister's brother became the next prime minister.