Slender willow wands
warm and genial breezes
a time to gather and write poems

under the groves of trees
beside the brimming ponds
footsteps of friends on the move

since we last said goodbye
I’ve grown more idle and lazy
about meeting or staying in touch

sunset and the cicadas
set up a ragged chorus
enlarging my sadness.

translated by Jiann I. Lin & David Young