To drive away my bitterness

I write this thought with my narrowed breath On the white frost.

_From the Chinese of w.a.n.g Chi (sixth and seventh centuries)._

A FLUTE OF MARVEL

Under the leaves and cool flowers The wind brought me the sound of a flute From far away.

I cut a branch of willow And answered with a lazy song.

Even at night, when all slept, The birds were listening to a conversation In their own language.

_From the Chinese of Li Po (705-763)._

THE WILLOW-LEAF

I am in love with a child dreaming at the window.

Not for her elaborate house On the banks of Yellow River;

But for a willow-leaf she has let fall Into the water.

I am in love with the east breeze.

Not that he brings the scent of the flowering of peaches White on Eastern Hill;

But that he has drifted the willow-leaf Against my boat.

I am in love with the willow-leaf.

Not that he speaks of green spring Coming to us again;

But that the dreaming girl p.r.i.c.ked there a name with her embroidery needle, And the name is mine.

_From the Chinese of Chang Chiu Ling (675-740)._

A POET LOOKS AT THE MOON

I hear a woman singing in my garden, But I look at the moon in spite of her.

I have no thought of trying to find the singer Singing in my garden; I am looking at the moon.

And I think the moon is honouring me With a long silver look.

I blink As bats fly black across the ray; But when I raise my head the silver look Is still upon me.

The moon delights to make eyes of poets her mirror, And poets are many as dragon scales On the moonlit sea.

_From the Chinese of Chang Jo Hsu._

WE TWO IN A PARK AT NIGHT

We have walked over the high gra.s.s under the wet trees To the gravel path beside the lake, we two.

A noise of light-stepping shadows follows now From the dark green mist in which we waded.

Six geese drop one by one into the shivering lake; They say "Peeng" and then after a long time, "Peeng,"

Swimming out softly to the moon.

Three of the balancing dancing geese are dim and black, And three are white and clear because of the moon; In what explanatory dawn will our souls Be seen to be the same?

_From the Chinese of J. Wing (nineteenth century)._

THE JADE STAIRCASE

The jade staircase is bright with dew.

Slowly, this long night, the queen climbs, Letting her gauze stockings and her elaborate robe Drag in the shining water.

Dazed with the light, She lowers the crystal blind Before the door of the pavilion.

It leaps down like a waterfall in sunlight.

While the tiny clashing dies down, Sad and long dreaming, She watches between the fragments of jade light The shining of the autumn moon.

_From the Chinese of Li Po (705-762)._

THE MORNING SHOWER

The young lady shows like a thing of light In the shadowy deeps of a fair window Grown round with flowers.

She is naked and leans forward, and her flesh like frost Gathers the light beyond the stone brim.

Only the hair made ready for the day Suggests the charm of modern clothing.

Her blond eyebrows are the shape of very young moons.