For a Friend,
Delayed by Heavy Rain
Messenger animals I trusted lost my letters
In the silky corn a rooster announces
What I know already
I close the door, wrapping myself in moonlight
In frayed curtains
Close by, water clears stone channels
Autumn is uncertain
Everyone thinking of home
An old poem comes to mind
Speaking the verses, I think of the patterns
The lines make
Looking for Master Zhao
His chanting is nuance
A subtlety of breath the gods find attractive
I arrive hoping he will polish my prayers
A little
The house is empty though, except for the maid
The alchemy pot with its medicine leaves
Still warm, the tea steeped
I wander into the courtyard
The few lamps, untrimmed
Long shadows
In late sun I think of his return, against
whitewashed walls
Cherry flowers
The Lovesick
Cure
I do as I please
No company to answer to
Playing the tourist
Admiring the moon
Where clouds part
On the river
The mooring rope drags in the water
Is it me or my boat, drifting
Empty temples
In Yu Liang’s gardens I make poems
Lute chords
Guileless
The bamboo groves
And rocky paths know my name
Bird-shapes above me
Precious metal sky
Desire is spring’s grassy wine
In the pond
I touch my water face
At night
In my window the moon hanging
Soundless
I lie in my bed, writing this down
My hair, loosened from the brooch
Makes me smile
Its sudden weight
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