okay I know
what he said
or didn’t say
what she did
or didn’t do
what goes on
behind that closed door
this is not exactly foreign territory
here
or there
that you are speaking of
and though I sympathize
it’s not something new
for you,
or me
for anyone
but go ahead anyway
tell me about it
then afterwards
I’ll tell you
Author: zdunno03
untitled tanka on sadness from Saigyo
in a mountain village
at autumn’s end–
that’s when you learn
what sadness means
in the blast of the wintry wind
translated by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
these words I write
these words I write
in my illegible scrawl
on wisps of clouds
scribbled on the wind
float by in the air
a message to read
a prayer to answer
To Tzu-chih: among the “Flowers” by Li Shang-yin
The light on the pool suddenly hides behind the wall,
Mingled scents of flowers invade the room.
On the edge of the screen, powder smeared by the butterfly:
On the lacquered window the yellow print of the bee.
Push those state papers across to the clerks,
There’s a maid for every honest civil servant.
Let’s ride abreast and hear each other’s poems.
What’s so urgent about this business you waste your heart on?
translated by A.C.Graham
from Peonies by Li Shang-yin
I who was given in a dream the brush of many colours
Wish to write on petals a message to the clouds of morning.
translated by A.C. Graham
along the shore
boats drift by on the sea
cats scamper among the rocks
sharpshooters pop balloons
cries on simit in the air
a paper cup of cay
cotton candy on a stick
it’s Saturday in Kadiköy
Istanbul along the shore
Impromptu by Meng Chiao: posted for certain friends of mine
Keep away from sharp swords,
Don’t go near lovely woman.
A sharp sword too close will wound your hand,
Woman’s beauty too close will wound your life.
The danger of the road is not in the distance,
Ten yards is far enough to break a wheel.
The peril of love is not in loving too often,
A single evening can leave its wound in the soul.
translated by A.C. Graham
time passing
Chuck says
when we were younger
it was sort of a whimsy
to think of time passing
before we shrugged it off
and moved on with our day
now it’s a reality
fleeting has a new meaning
and each day
each moment
a new significance
there is nothing quite like
these Saturday morning conversations
to remind one
of things one cannot overlook
anymore
so it’s Judy Collins
on the stereo
which prompted that comment
and wine this early
in the morning
and the hell with time
let it pass
there’s laundry to do
some food shopping
buy a steak to eat
with eggs for breakfast
tomorrow morning
and dare that specter
to try anything funny
with me today
nighttime in kadiköy
pide and wine
a guitar a singer
dark eyes on my mind
there’ll be no sleep
this night
in kadiköy
why one does what one does: for RU & NB
there is that light
in the eyes
that wasn’t there
some weeks before
a phrase maybe
a look a smile
the way you danced down the aisle
a certain stress of an unfamilar word
an analogy used
it could be anything
or everything
but it was something
you did
that changed a little corner
of this world
your job
you think
done
yes, your job
who you are in this world
God’s angels
with your passion
spreading hope
one day at a time
Leonard Durso 