first twenty poems
1
lovesick
her hair
mauve cloud
coiled bun
jade pinned
gossamer
pale
frowning brows
she wears
autumn wind on
drizzle out doors
plantain trees tall
too long night
out there
2
lovesickeness
faroff mountains
layered away
mist on the lake’s
chill surface
leaves on the maple
crimson the heart
chrysanthemums bloom
and are gone
ganders stay
until their wings take them
past curtains
merest breeze, just the moon
3
spring in the jade pavilion
evening makes up
snow white faces
a file of young beauties
in the Spring palace
reed pipes, bamboo flutes
float on the air
who sprinkles the fragrance
into this breeze? Drunkenly
knocking at rails I’m steeped
in sentiments no light admits
therefore the candles stay unlit
clip clop of the moonlight
brings me home
4
song of the water clock at night
gold pin
rosy cheeks
a rendezvous
just heaven knew
fragrant wick
and weeping candle
a picture of our moods
tears moisten the embroidered pillow
blanket cold as night is deep
the water clock falls still
5
dream of Spring
over the strings the fingers
over the reed pipe breath
through the frosty bamboo
these purer than words
glance sidelong of the lovers parting
the house inside the rain
the banquet in the house
in Spring a dream
and yearning lingers
music brings me
winter’s dream –
Spring
6
tryst
gorgeous flowers
dim moonlight
thin mist
a stockinged tiptoe
to their tryst
he, in the south end
of the Painting Hall
she, into his arms
come trembling
how troublesome to meet
in shadows
how tender the moment
of hearts lit within
7
first of Spring
first of Spring
for pleasure
what floats in a cup of wine?
petals
unfolding
the flower
let us not whisper
of withering
it’s Spring – let’s drink to it
you beat the drum
I’ll bring the brush and ink
8
a fisherman
1
waves roll into snow
mute peaches make Spring
a pot of wine
a fishing pole
a mist
my vanishing
2
one oar
one boat
one line
one hook
flowers all over the isle
wine
a full vessel
then
let me be
following
breeze
let me be
mist
and
vanishing
9
insects fond of flowers
I rambled by the riverside
mourning last of Spring
dark winds drowned the drizzle
and the lamps of Qing Ming
a night wrecked?
I won’t say so
the fat lady may sing
peaches and plums
whisper with laughter
moon in its cloud
comes to bed after
10
Spring met in mist
shy to meet Spring
now that youth’s passed
I was as shy before
bygones have gone by
grass grown over flowers
mist lies deep over all
11
beating clothes
sleepless in unending night
the empty hall falls to echoes
through a bamboo curtain
hear winter’s chill
not a frog sounds
but the mind won’t be still
another, sleepless
rises early
wakes the house
does to his clothes
what she dare not
do to the man
12
waking from a night alone
hair messy
make-up faded
brows frown like the far-away peaks
against the balustrade
delicate fingers
and touching the cheeks
how far tears fall
13
waking for a piss in the early hours
the palace sleeps
I put on a gown
for the moonlight
stood among the chill bamboo
here’s me – miniature landscape
waterfall of my own making
eyes high in the forest of leaves
seek a star
14
love lost and passion enduring
I cannot see the girl with the flute
but I know how it is to lie in her arms
flowers bow and lift their heads
in fits the scent of her skin comes to me
twilight in the jewelled glass
willows cast shadows night won’t dispel
it is a cruel breeze brings her to me
our moment in mind’s bubble yet
15
hung over
cherry blossoms strew the yard
an ivory bed cast in moonlight
hair loosed lustreless
bitterest yearning
tears fall on scant garments of love
so many papers to sign
16
after one of those endless imperial parties
the guests went home
the painted hall still hung
with its breezes
all the long night
Spring still
one girl waits in the attic
dozing when she’s not required
mirror and make-up both at the ready
still tipsy when the first birds wake her
when comes the whistling
of workmen outside
17
footsteps of Spring
the footsteps of Spring
are falling away
the long night of blossoms
endures through your sleep
I stayed awake
to outstare this spray
of cherries, to wait
for the light,
for your waking
for withering day
18
first intimation of winter
autumn too wearies
steps come crimson strewn
herbs from the high hills
fill up the temple
the Double Ninth arrives
and in the yard’s doorway
where kitchen smoke
contends with drizzle
chrysanthemum
wild geese fly by
only their lament
deathless, unchanging
19
ennui of Spring
jade pendants dishevelled
make-up marred, messy bun
I hold the stairs up leaning
just me and the scenery
two shadows lament
an easterly wind over the river runs
sun devouring the crests left of hills
Spring’s ennui – all fallen flowers
I wander in among reeds sounding
I can’t go on drinking like this
20
mourning for the season passed
every petal’s fallen
Spring’s once firm footing’s lost
those butterflies made pretty pairs
a cliché now and spent
the birds who sang
as smoke dispersed
faraway
from hazy grasslands
the traveller into sun and drought
casts a fond eye back