40
the river all red
2

left stranded in Xinfeng
shabby clothes, eyes of dust
I lean on a sword
till the clouds take its shine

no one writes good laments anymore
and another thing
some heroes ought to be appointed
to help the emperor
in the country’s defence
there might be prosperity then
as it is they only read old classics
and that’s where they are read

why be sad
when we can drink?
life’s short – let’s
treasure the moment

woman’s company’s best
chrysanthemum hairpins
who needs to serve, to be a hero?

this sword would bring me
a good cow, a field
yes there’d be loneliness
and poems written

41
fragrant garden

a woman of exceptional beauty
with no references for the palace
still she makes others jealous

it’s always a pretty girl who gets hurt
a moon so bright the stars seem dim

she folds her arms – lofty mountains
rivers run, frogs in dried ponds contend

this empire needs a better script
a better by-line than Son of Heaven

a fire dragon could make ancestors glorious
just as silkworms wind and spin

and so a garment’s spun
think of the wind and the moon by the lake

will the works of heroes endure?
look to graves in wasted grass

I’ll stick with my chances
of staying in print





42
prelude to water melody

sun shines on the door of the palace
the tigers and leopards have all opened up
it’s the dragon who won’t be changing his mind

virtue and patriotism – they’ll never sway him
though they may last past the grave

still, good news can spread
come and laugh at my thatched cottage
door covered in grass
path hewn from moss

I’ll put both of your hands to use
baked crab in one, wine glass in the other
we shall speak of swords, of poems
we’ll sing till we fall down

the sadness of white hair
the joy of survival
I’ve learnt to keep clear
of the court’s sunlit doors






43
another prelude to a water melody

I’ve always been fond of outer space
dreamt of taking myself to the sky

a word with the moon and a thousand years pass
here come my old friends riding on egrets

here comes Su Dongpo, here comes Li Bai
see how the two of them hold the Big Dipper?

see how these fellows put away wine!
a somnolent voice frees me for napping

great swan spreads its wings again and again
heaven and earth – which round, which square?

one puts a perplexed pillow by, one ponders
the imperfection of all things below

then a beautiful woman ruins that theory
perfection is where the heart knows it must go






44
Spring in Han Palace

Spring
and everywhere women’s pretty heads
draped in the flags of Spring

wind and the rain come for no reason
still the cold weather stays

two sparrows tonight
dream of the garden
where the Han emperor hunted

wine from the mandarins
fruit trays, willows make green
and the plum blossoms carry

the east breeze into the glass
of the mirror… there’s no time
to spare… there’s a sad face
and flowers fall after they blossom

wild geese of the Han wing home






45
eight beats of the old song

that old general Lu drank wildly
after his wild ride
shame on the arrogant official
who asked him out of his saddle
to stop the night with his whole army
by this far pavilion

once General Li shot a tiger alone
his arrow so honed it could pierce a stone
but the emperor gave him no title
he retired to the countryside to toil

still, he expanded the empire just farming
and all of our hearts by his example grew
but his twilight’s come and
now night’s gloomy reign
covers the land with frost








46
charm of a singer

wild pear flowers
trip down the mountains

slim as the moon
she sings

Qing Ming comes quickly
and it goes

chill Spring wind wakes me
from my dream

makes me fear
dreaming mists

by the river’s bank
fine carriages see off the willows

grey hairs in the mirror
why look so surprised?

only the swallows can tell of the past
and who can fathom their speech?






47
charm of another singer

if I could have all the official garb
the hoo-ha and the broo-ha-ha
then I’d be like a hero of Han
with the moon conversing
I’d know what men are
but I wouldn’t know any men

as it is there’s frost on my brow
chrysanthemums falling
I’m medicine in the emperor’s cage
this dynasty no less real than the rest
white clouds and the moon
and waning stars pass
just as birds, just as men
from this stage







48
slow tune of lily magnolia flowers

this Han emperor built a capital
no one can remember it now

his first act was to attack the west
we bade him farewell at a banquet

he went too far too fast

sad flags in the air
missed all the way back

the emperor came home in a box

wild geese in their
autumn shadows flew






49
water dragon chant

blue sky in the autumn
water flows clear
the distant hills are sadness

like jade clasps
in a girl’s coiled hair
the sunshine
in the chill pavilion

the west wind grows
as pale as dusk

lost swans in their sorrow
cry each to each
the eagle finds no nesting

years pass
and the wanderer beneath them
remembers a pretty face
red cloth for his tears

could have been a householder once

away beyond the wind and the rain
where even the trees grow old

30
first full moon festival

Spring wind brings the fireworks
stars fall like rain

carved coaches pass drawn by noble steeds
a trail of perfume, flute music behind

dragons and fish all night at their dance
a crystal lantern hangs on the breeze

and more – jade moths, silver willows, gold threads
the talk and the laughter, the fair folk in crowds

the crowds passing, one face among them I must find
and there – in midnight’s fading lantern

there she is – and I’m found

31
song of a river city

bamboo and pine – the countryside
hear the cloud clad clan from high on their hill

everything stands up after the snow
leans towards blossom, Spring light

smell the grass by the stream
on the peach flower road

puts you in mind of the story you’re in
then swing past the wine shop

bring up a bottle, it keeps night’s cold out
the carriage that brought me seems to be sighing

white hair and pale face – such work to be old!
wine won’t restore youth but it makes words bold

32
autumns pass in their thousands

every day fit and well
the horses report

a birthday feast
shows the hero’s mettle

the city walls are strong enough
need neither mending nor support

time out for the jade
for the pearl raining sky

at peace
the emperor’s edict comes

first thing in the morning
this territory small

the army is vast
our cellar’s on wheels

let’s remain in the tent
strategy to discuss

33
butterflies

thirteen girls of springtime
learnt to embroider flowers thinner than real

wind and the rain had the better of them
now spent cloth like red carpet flies in the garden

spring is a frivolous wanderer
won’t stay, but won’t be told to go either

a pot of wine – and in it place flowers
good wine too

and willows for tears
in sight of the sea

34
just another wee dram?

let me pour you a glass
oh please say yes
speak well of me
as of all things, all others

look at this rakish beaker
well plied, leers and it ogles
vessels, vintages younger
warm, cool, each brimming truth

I drank a lot when I was young
and people said that I was stubborn
better to tell what they wanted to hear
with wine however there’s no need to flatter

I’m no good at words
‘fail them before they fail you’ I say
besides – I’d rather have wine in my mouth
give passion to things which can’t matter

35
Zhu Ying Tai closer

let us divide the hairpins between us
let’s part at the peach tree
willows in mist
the pavilion too far in this wind and rain
heartbreaking to see petals so strewn
only the orioles mourn them

flowers in temples
petals all numbered
I put back the hairpin to count days again
light dim in thin silk
sobbing in dreams
only Spring brings these worries

36
a thousand years his poetry lives

too old to get rich now
and if I were to
what good would it do?

life in a rice bowl
or wine warmed in cups?
the old hermits teach me the way

drink in my spare time
write poems while drunk
a thousand years scrimping

and saving, this clan will
never own the fields they till
look at this lazy nong of a nephew

hungrily waiting for uncle to fall
what good would I do by leaving a legacy?
better peasants drink to their ancestor – me







37
song of the fairy in the cave

he wants to dance by the southern stream
green the hills there with wonder

seagulls lie on the sandy bank
fishing boats set with the sun

Tao Qian teaches forgetting this world
and I will be a hermit

I will, just you watch
then let me set sail this once

over the salt vast
dirge of the waves

by poetry and wine I come
and all for the sake of a woman

38
sublime pleasures

black clouds to the ridge of the mountain attend
the tempest pours rain from the sky

trees and the sunset both lost to the storm
until there is nothing to picture

just a little imagination reveals
the green flag in pale light at the foot of the hill

tells me the wine shop’s now open
summer’s like this – a glorious vista

wake bamboos and pines
bring me my three treasures

in the dreaming mind
no bird too wild but visits






39
the river all red

stream and mountain peak pass through my eyes
all strangely and as I have somewhere remembered

time may have flown but I’ve been on foot
how many pairs of shoes make a life?

hardships have etched in my face more furrows
than this harsh sun ploughs

I go on
Wu and Chu – a river divides them

Cao Cao and Liu Bei
the west wind makes dust

the man building palaces
now narrow in tomb

in time it is only the fool
pledges trust

21

a young king

where can I look to the north?

from a splendid pavilion

how many dynasties rise and then fall?

history swift as the Yangtze

a young king with his armoured host

held the southeast, fought without respite

only two of the empire’s heroes could match him

Cao Cao and Liu Bei

give me a sun like Sun Quan instead

22

bright the moon shines

bright the moon shines upon the pavilion

the courtyard full of olive scent

autumn here now, who climbs high feels sad

let us pour plenty of wine

watch the dance

wind and rain will only bring worries

23

New Year coming

everyone busy with the New Year coming

flowers and blossom all fall

earth turns, sun spins – mere decoration

no one remembers the past

before Spring comes

are we wise not to ask

whether flowers will bloom early this year

wind and rain won’t be predicted

let’s drink to the coming New Year!

24

poems for the Spring

1

Spring has come, the feast almost on us

wind and rain paint the fields

the poet’s brush to set all down

people pass through the willows

butterflies through flowers

silkworms newborn in the mulberry trees

with poems and wine I busy myself

who knows whether cloudy or sunny by morning

whether the weather is with us or not

all sober fools will be good for a laugh

2

a Spring wind blows out

last cobwebs of winter

then by the brazier we dwell

warm in our hutch

sweet dreaming

under the roof

under rain

25

a spray of plum blossoms

drunk on my mountain top

in a green mist

the day is cold

leaving is nigh

I ask the plum if she knows

will it snow

last time here were heavy drifts

now the willows all hang low

green grass abounds

blackbirds beg the Spring to stay

26

a drunk’s dream

drunk

I light the lamp

to look at the sword

on my waist

waking

I remember the dream

full of the enemy’s wild horns

and ours

beef and grog had been given the men

with every kind of instrument

they worked themselves

up in a frenzy

at the roll call

they were all ready to fight

our horses ran as fast as dragons

our arrows flew like thunderbolts

how famous all of us were to be

how white my hair on waking

27

the trouble with parting words

when I was young – easy goodbyes

now I can’t stand this writing farewell

see the wild geese

send winter south

like a note tied

under their legs

the plum blossom helps

to make longing less

so many rivers and mountains

birds skirt

the journey endless

among the old clans

no need to see me off with a flag

just light me a lantern

mid-Autumn, New Year

28

maudlin thoughts come to naught

don’t be so sad thinking of home

the emperor wants you to write a new poem

growing old having done so little – that’s tragic

no use relying on poetry’s magic

leaning green on the mountain

one worries how to make a living

there’s singing and dancing when we are young

white heads spill ink on what was once sung

29

falling petals

the yellow warbler

the purple swallow

fly singing

of some pretty thing

not for our ears to understand

spring and the season

of rain is upon us

the rain thuds by

my tiny window

tonight a wind

to tend these clouds

to blow the moon

back home

10
rat dreaming

a hungry rat runs past the bed
rats always run
they’re always hungry

a rat dances towards the light
this is the rodent’s joy

unending night
up on the roof
a howling wind

paper’s torn
rain beats the walls rotten

think of the shutters mumbling insensibly

‘life took me everywhere’
the old rat said

‘now only my underbelly’s still black
the rest is grey, I’ve snow white whiskers

once I dreamt I woke a man
I’ve long since slept that nightmare off’

bedclothes too thin
see how I turn

the autumn gets inside me

for thousands of miles
these mountains the same

still thousands of years
to this night




11
serene music

pines and bamboo
in the garden touch clouds
a pleasure to live in this place

walking east with my stick
to taste pork
that’s been blessed

wine warms on the hob
soon we’ll imbibe

*

in the harvest season
pick pears and jujubes

in the west wind
kids fight lengths of bamboo

they don’t frighten anyone … in fact
they cheer up a secret old codger like me

12
moon over the west river

bright moon frightens crows on the bough
cicadas shrill cool at midnight
a whiff of these fields you can tell a good crop
every frog croaks loud for the harvest

on the horizon, seven, eight stars
two or three drops of rain on the hill
thatched inn next to the village god’s house
round the corner the old bridge still there





13
moon over the west river 2

even though alcohol makes you happy
it’s not as if one has time to be sad
till lately I thought the works of the sages
useless no matter how right

drunk by the old familiar pine last night
I asked the tree just how
…drunk I mean, of course, I asked…
he helped me up, I pushed him away

condescending damn tree







14
moon over the west river 3

the ten thousand things
clouds and smoke passing
the hundred year willow
soon withers away

the best thing for now
after drinking and talk
sound sleep with myself
see what I’ve to say

the government levies taxes
and promptly, to pay
the tax collectors too
and soldiers, bean counters
bureaucrats all shades
and all sizes
offices full of them
they make quite a crew

myself? I’m here to look
after the mountain, streams
water falling and green
green bamboo






15
partridge sky 1

after singing farewell
tears score my face

neither sorrow nor joy
leaves me now

a storm above the river
just drifts

official rank is no big deal
eat up, eat up I say

water in courses
rises to heaven

so much hatred
hear clash of steel

in the blue above
all souls meet one day







16
partridge sky 2

soft mulberry
just beginning to bud

the silkworm grows
by eastern light

short grass
just tufting

the yellow cow’s moo
sun sets on the forest

turns crows
into night

mountains far greet now
mountains nearby

a green flag shows
where wine’s to be had

in the city students
suffer so many ways

the shepherd’s purse
holds just this one meal

but by its power
spring stays






17
partridge sky 3

a million pearls
spat from these falls

yellow and squirrel
suslik, polatouche

treacherous paths
keep all on their toes

stop to tune into
their conversation

that’s when you’ll hear
no one’s home

bridge centres the view
pagoda’s far off

along the southern stream
I walk with my stick

with my grass shoes
grow old

in my cosy hut’s
bamboo grove






18
partridge sky 4

when I was young
I waved a flag
to lead a thousand soldiers

horse too
how my men
fashioned arrows
of silver
at night

they brought
down the moon

now the enemy owns it
now I come back
I’m nobody

now
thinking of the past
how one
sighs to be neglected

spring won’t bring back
the black to my beard

you can’t imagine
the tracts I wrote
on tactics
for this country

in return I’m given
this poor field
bent mattock
and some weather-worn tome
titled ‘how to grow tree’





19
bridge of magpies

stay on the pine hill
keep out of summer

stay in this hut
to keep out of the rain

I don’t remember
how many times I’ve come

and drunk watched the waterfall
clung to my rock

this is where
I sober up

*

the eastern family
found a new wife

the daughter of the west
found a man

so much laughter and light
by the gate

the fragrance of
a thousand flowers

the heart sings heaven’s thanks
this night breeze






20
Spring in the jade pavilion

sunset all along the river
lights the grass and lights the trees

a thousand years
six dynasties

o deeply one cares for the rise and the fall
of kingdoms and countries

the egret’s call –
sandbank to lazy sandbank

brings tears
better to put aside duties and fears

brush the dirt off of clothes
go home in the autumn