the distances between
and arms too old
to flap away
over mountains
over rivers
that ocean
those seas
how oh how
to cross
those distances between
distances
distance vast between: reading Wei Ying-wu
the distance vast
between east and west
in miles in years
so long so far gone
yet here I sit
with coffee
laced with whiskey
listening for your voice
in these small hours
till dawn
the moon looks down
not alone
as long as the moon
looks down
on you
on me
though far apart
as I look up
your eyes too
are there
the distance between
here
my hand
there
your heart
the distance between
the hard part
on distances
from here
to there
no easy distance
to cross
time zones
the clock
tells time
where you are
where I am
the hour
thousands of miles
apart
much like our life
together
yesterday today
tomorrow
Far and Close by Gu Cheng
You
Look a while at me,
Look a while at a cloud.
I feel
You are far away while looking at me,
So very close while looking at the cloud.
translated by Fang Dai, Dennis Ding, & Edward Morin
a tanka: no easy way
watching from afar
hearts will break in two in three
pieces fall away
there is no easy way out
and staying is harder still
Leonard Durso 