Wuhan Poem Cycle I: Night Journey to River City / Nanan Zui

2008/8/19 6:01:07

Up early with nothing to do, so I'll put up the two Wuhan-related regulated verses written these past few days. New posts may have to wait until tomorrow morning — busy this afternoon, my apologies.

Night Journey to River City

Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán

Without a thought, still eighty thousand

Without a dream, of itself three thousand

Sitting long, the body scorched through

Traveling alone, the solitary guest simmers

The moon bright, wind glittering

The car racing, shadows spinning askew

The vast earth in endless night

Cold stars silent in the distant sky

Nanan Zui

Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán

The Yangtze and Han converge, heaven and earth stride forth

Wild waves, clear and murky, roll up cloud-banners

Sun and moon rise and sink, spinning dusk and dawn

The drama of rise and fall beats its drums and clappers

Though deep trenches once scarred every field

No great wave could ever split the nation

Gazing southeast, the swan fades like the Yellow Crane

How shall this broken body shoulder mountains and seas?