Chinese Poems - Hangzhou
I teach English at a university in Hangzhou, China. Hangzhou has been home to some of China's most famous poets - Su Shi (aka Su Dongpo -1037 – 1101) and Bai Juyi (772–846), One of the things I ask my students to do is to write poetry. I want them to connect with this historical tradition. You can find their poetry here: China Poetry I also write a poem because I do not ask my students to do anything I cannot do myself. The job was to write FREE VERSE
This is my 2019 effort
Around West Lake in April
Around West Lake in April
The year of the virus
I gloried in the spring greens of the maple
The sun bouncing off the water brighter
My eyes distracted by the splintered diamonds
As I caught the sound of distant laughter
Couples warming in the sunshine
Reminded me of my youth
And the lovers who were once mine.
The distant misty mountains drew my eye
And I wondered of the sage’s past
And I heard their voices in the soft winds sigh
Ah Hangzhou is it a dream?
Do the poets still call to us?
Their rhymes carried in the silver streams?
West Lake echoes with the ancient songs
The verses and chants of woe and love
Whisper though the willow fronds
I listened carefully all day long
And let the ringing water teach me
Until, at last, West Lake could hear my song.
And My 2020 poem
January 2021 - China
In the haze of a chilly Chinese Morning
I remember the temples and markets of Chiang Mai
The warmth of the Thai sun shining on my face
Then, January 2020
Back in Hangzhou
The spectre of a virus hangs in the air
Can we buy masks?
Can we buy food?
We close our doors firmly
As we are taken to task
Late March, we walk in the warm spring sun
West Lake is green and fragrant
The terror is receding
And yet, 2020 is not finished with me
Screen to screen
I speak to my mother for the last time
She leaves us in July
And, as in Thailand
I make my way to the Temples to seek solace
2021 peeks over the horizon
Will the world be a better place?
I light incense and watch the smoke curl
Into the blue haze of the afternoon
Watching my prayer drift on,
Into the sky
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