Every year one more piece of the past
Floats away on the winding river of time
I watch the last ones travel, serene before my eyes,
And drink in bitter dregs of sorrow
Birds nest in the tree outside my window
April winds blow cold between the tombstones
I make a conscious effort to find joy in this sad world
For everything would be lost if there were no happiness at all
72 words
“Each piece of flying blossom leaves spring the less,
I grieve as myriad points float in the wind.
I watch the last ones move before my eyes,
And cannot have enough wine pass my lips.
Kingfishers nest by the little hall on the river,
Unicorns lie at the high tomb’s enclosure.
Having studied the world, one must seek joy,
For what use is the trap of passing honour?“
now the notes
This poem is a good poem. It mostly obeys the rules--mostly. It checks most of the boxes. It doesn't make too many waves.
You are welcome to stop reading at the end of these Necessary Notes and call this visit good. However, if you'd like to follow this slacker by nature down a conversely overachieving rabbit hole, come along with me and see what other variations on Chinese poetry I have to offer. You needn't spend even one penny from your coffer, because, you see, this ride is free.
a momentary respite
many years have passed since I last visited a temple
or took a walk anywhere I felt at peace
I remember visiting the botanic gardens at night
The tolling bell calls the people to worship on Sunday
A tiny stream ran through the neighborhood where I used to live
There was a forest behind where green pines chilled the sunlight’s coloured rays.
I used to walk through woods or stream alone
Looking at the clouds I could see dragons playing
Stopping at Incense Storing Temple ~ Wang Wei
“I did not know the incense storing temple,
I walked a few miles into the clouded peaks.
No man on the path between the ancient trees,
A bell rang somewhere deep among the hills.
A spring sounded choked, running down steep rocks,
The green pines chilled the sunlight’s coloured rays.
Come dusk, at the bend of a deserted pool,
Through meditation I controlled passion’s dragon.“
the end of everything
as a child, I dreamed about the horse of time
now too many things fade into the past
I like seeing the moon shining in my window
It is as beautiful as the moon was in my childhood
Everything has changed so much in my old town
When my mother is gone, I will visit there no more
It brings back too many painful memories
Even with the passing of years, some wounds never heal
Oh When Will Autumn Moon and Spring Flowers End (The Beautiful Lady Yu) ~ Li Yu
“Oh, when will autumn moon and spring flowers end?
How many past events I’ve known.
The east wind buffeted my room again last night,
I cannot bear to remember the bright moon of the old country.
The marble steps and carved balustrades must still be there,
The people’s rosy cheeks are all that’s changed.
How much sorrow can one man have to bear?
As much as a river of spring water flowing east“
the birds
I don't hear too much from the birds outside my window
they fly to and fro, perching soundlessly
I slowly knit a headband and a scarf
from multicolored yarn, gold and red like autumn
I will never again try to weave romantic love into my life
better to be lonely alone than lonely in love
Crows calling at Night ~ Li bai
“Yellow clouds beside the walls; crows roosting near.
Flying back, they caw, caw; calling in the boughs.
In the loom she weaves brocade, the Qin river girl.
Made of emerald yarn like mist, the window hides her words.
She stops the shuttle, sorrowful, and thinks of the distant man.
She stays alone in the lonely room, her tears just like the rain.“
hope for today
I must drive, so I hope it will not snow
60 miles to the veterinary hospital
night will fall regardless of what happens
my cat behaves the same as she ever did
If I could drink wine, I would
I look at the birds outside my window
when my cats are gone, I will have no more
my heart is still an open wound from those lost before
“The lingering clouds, rolling, rolling,
And the settled rain, dripping, dripping,
In the Eight Directions—the same dusk.
The level lands—one great river.
Wine I have, wine I have:
Idly I drink at the eastern window.
Longingly—I think of my friends,
But neither boat nor carriage comes.“
~cie~
These poems and the following prompt comes from the D'Verse Poets Poetics Challenge for 22 April 2021.
The Poetics’ Challenge here is: Select any ONE of the above poems and with as many re-reads as you need, imagine what the poet has painted, what impressions are conveyed. Then:-
reinterpret the poem in your own style
OR for those of you who prefer a classical form then:-
2. re-interpret the poem in the Chinese LUSHI style
eight lines long of couplets – The first couplet should set-up the poem; the middle two couplets develop the theme, the final couple is conclusion
each line must have the same number of words, either 5,6, or 7.
a mono-rhyme is on every even-numbered line
Caesura (a pause) should separate clauses.
WHICHEVER STYLE YOU CHOOSE YOU SHOULD:-
use the same title
not re-use more than a very few (if any) of the poet’s words
cite the poet at the end of your post. [Alternatively, parallel the original with your own poem- by using a 2 column layout]
OTHER PROMPTS USED
Day 21: Write a (Blank) Me poem.
https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/2021-april-pad-challenge-day-21
Since I'm working with Chinese poetry, I settled on the title Sail Me to China.
Day 22: Write a nature poem.
https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/2021-april-pad-challenge-day-22
There are references to nature in these poems.
(Sometimes I wish I could throw Grammarly out the window and just bloody well write without red lines appearing all over the place.)
Day 21: Use a line with a repetitive set-up such as "when the..." or "'twas like" as in the poem "There Was a Man of Double Deed."
https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-one-6/
I didn't do this.
Day 22: write a poem that invokes a specific object as a symbol of a particular time, era, or place.
https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-two-7/
I didn't really do this. I used the tree outside my window as a repeated point of reference.
These are enchanting! I think you have really caught the flavour of the old Chinese poems – as well as fulfilling the requirements of various other prompts at the same time. I was brought up on Arthur Waley's translations of Chinese poetry which I always loved, so it is great delight to me to encounter these poems here, both the originals and your own.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. :-)
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