song of the water clock at night and other poems for Spring after Li Yu. Responses by Christopher Kelen.
hung over
in the imperial bedroom
cherry blossoms
strew the yard seen
from an ivory bed
cast in moonlight
tears fall on scant
garments of love
lustreless hair loosed
shows bitter yearning
so many papers to sign
call the next girl
the emperor
wants to resign
after one of those endless imperial parties
the guests went home
the painted hall still hung
with its breezes
all the long night
spring still
one girl waits in the attic
dozing when she’s not required
mirror and make-up both at the ready
still tipsy when the first birds wake her
when comes the whistling
of workmen outside
in my dream
life was never
proof against woe
my soul is gnawed
with unwept tears
in my dream
I return to my country
not to war
not to rule
not to be king again
will you mount
to the tower
with me
just this once more?
there never was finer
than this autumn day
willows in spring
soft spring rain
through the curtains of willow
ticktock of the water clock
wounding that night
crows on the gate tower wake and doze
one drum beat tells the dark enduring
still the wild geese startle
the lady in her lonely bed
starts too
a fragrant mist
thin glimmer of the candle’s last
here comes the hero
from the embroidery
dazzled by life
unwittingly
he slips
into my dream
I hold him till
the whole night’s
spent
our forty years
our forty years
of rivers and mountains –
more than one reign
the landscape’s dynastic
the dragon’s tower
the thousand years
in dust locked still
the phoenix in the attic
came down after
a chat up there
trees of emerald
litter the mist
once the immortals
were with us alive
I was ignorant
of war
made a better
exile than king
look how thin
how grey
words now
are you moved?
no court ladies cry
these centuries since
but a ghost can still
taste his poison