Oh, hello janet planet!! Thanks for the Curt Cobain song. What a sad affair that was, anyway. I love his voice, especially how soft it is on the unplugged album. I read your poetry at SI--boy, you write a lot of it, and very good poetry too, in my opinion. I just happen to have a couple of poems up my silly, romantic sleeve tonight. I hope you enjoy them. Unfortunately, they are a little sad, but I think they are beautiful. They are about loss, and are by the 19th century Chinese woman poet, Wu Tsao. No titles, sorry!!! I have no idea why!!
Bitter rain in my courtyard
In the decline of Autumn,
I only have vague poetic feelings
That I cannot bring together.
They diffuse into the dark clouds
And the red leaves.
After the yellow sunset
The cold moon rises
Out of the gloomy mist.
I will not let down the blinds
Of spotted bamboo from their silver hook.
Tonight my dreams will follow the wind,
Suffering the cold,
To the jasper tower of your beautiful flesh.
-Translated by Kenneth Rexroth and Ling Chung
I have closed the double doors.
In what corner of the heavens is she?
A horizontal flute
Beyond the red walls
Blown as gently as the breeze
Blows the willow floss.
In the lingering glow of the sunset
The roosting crows ignore my melancholy.
Once again I languidly get out of bed.
After I have burned incense,
I loiter on the jeweled staircase.
I regret the wasted years,
Sick, afraid of the cold, afraid of the heat,
While the beautiful days went by.
Suddenly it is the Autumn Feast of the Dead.
Constantly disturbed by the changing weather,
I lose track of the flowing light
That washes us away.
Who moved the turning bridges
On my inlaid psaltery?
I realize--
Of the twenty five strings
Twenty one are gone.
-Translated by Kenneth Rexroth and Ling Chung
Nice to have you here, and stick around, okay!!!
Sugar Magnolia |
