Seeing North Light

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Lines For Beckett

13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989

He who propels life forward to death

from April to December

by day by night

for many cycles of spring

musing

to blind tides

deaf skies

a kind man

with unwithered love

of all mankind

he who propels

a woman

in a wheelchair towards us

she who propels destiny

We hide from the knowledge in their eyes

we want life to go on forever

sun always shining

if it rains

we want a rainbow

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Song of the Palace*

by Po-Chu-Yi

Heartbroken

hankies drenched with tears

exhausted with grief

they still cannot sleep

at the loneliest time of night

when snatches of song gust through the Palace

music throbs

walls tremble

she who is not even old

who has lost the King’s love

weeps until dawn

by damp clothes spread out to dry

by long dresses maids have laid to one side

ENVOI**

diverting attention
ripened fruit falls
caught by a mosaic floor

perfectly ripe
young women preen
she not even old wipes tiles clean

filled with remorse

a widow who sent her husband to war

to seek fame

*translated by David Sen

an early version published in Chapman

Vol III, No.4 “Dick Russell” issue

1975; Editors: Walter Perrie, Joy Hendry, R. R. Calder

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Glue

he boiling down cattle hooves
she a fruit concoction to make a brittle

glue for furniture

fruit

fresh gathered

he she

in entanglement

soup pots

home made wine

ice cream

quiet

looking back towards

memories

herds moving over the plain

outliers roped in

family matters

more than before

friends too

after so many years

peace

copyright ©
Dick Russell, 2014

Friday, October 10, 2014

Remorse

by Wang Chang-Ling

too young

for sorrow

she powdered her face

like dancing bees

bringing pollen back to the hive

on this fine spring day

from her balcony

she sees green buds on twigs

birds mating

all these omens swell

her heart with regret

she sent her husband

to war

to seek fame

translated by David Sen

interpreted by Dick Russell

an earlier version published in

Chapman Chinese Issue

1972, Chapman, Editor: Walter Perrie

Monday, September 29, 2014

On Dreaming of Li Po
by Tu Fu

i

I’ve kept silent

no-one knows my anguish

who doesn’t feel sad

when a friend leaves

but when they sent you away

I was so overcome with grief

it was if you had died

since they exiled you in the South

among fens and swamps

I haven’t stopped thinking of you

though I’ve heard no news

until last night

when you appeared in my dreams

you’re imprisoned in such darkness

you’re so far away

how could you find wings to fly to me?

was it your ghost?

when you appeared

shadows lifted

everything was green

when you were gone

there was darkness

overpowering the mountains

moonlight passed through the trees

shone onto the rafters

somewhere your face

shone vaguely

old friend

be careful!

a storm approaches

those swamps are deep

don’t let the river dragon catch you

ii

still south bound clouds pass by

you who went with them

haven’t returned

for three nights I’ve dreamt of you

cheered by your company

when we said goodbye

I saw anxiety in your face

struggle is never ending

your way home is hard

storms are approaching

your boat may capsize

you left your door

scratching your white head

dismayed at your treatment

while others enjoy favor

you were cast out

downtrodden sad

growing old

lonely

if this be your fate

there is no justice in the world

don’t be ashamed

mix misfortune with your old age

think only of your fame

your fame will last forever

let loneliness take care of itself

Tu Fu

translated by David Sen

interpreted by Dick Russell