BED-CURTAIN, LONG FLAPPING IN THE BREEZE AT NIGHT, LONG HANGING THERE TO SCREEN US IN THE DAY! WHEN I LEFT MY FATHER’S HOUSE I BROUGHT YOU WITH ME AND UNFOLDED YOU WITH DELIGHT. NOW I AM TAKING YOU BACK AGAIN. I FOLD YOU AND LAY YOU FLAT IN THIS WOODEN BOX. BED-CURTAIN, WILL I EVER UNFOLD YOU AND HANG YOU UP AGAIN? [Wife of Lieu Hsun]
FADING IN THE SPRINGTIME
THE CAREFUL KNOT OF HAIR LIES LOW UPON HER NECK; HER LONG AND NARROW EYEBROWS ARE PAINTED SKILLFULLY.
ALAS! FOLLOWING YOU, HER THOUGHTS ARE WANDERING AFAR; IN THIS SEASON OF A HUNDRED FLOWERS, SHE GROWS THIN AND PALE. [Weng T’ing-chun]
THE GIRL AT HOME
EARTH HAS SWALLOWED THE SNOW. AGAIN WE SEE PLUM-TREES IN BLOSSOM. NEW WILLOW-LEAVES ARE GOLD. COLD WATERS OF THE LAKE ARE SILVER.... BUTTERFLIES POWDERED WITH GOLD LAY VELVET HEADS TO THE HEARTS OF FLOWERS.
IN HIS UNMOVING BOAT THE YOUNG FISHERMAN PULLS UP HIS DRIPPING NET, MAKING RIPPLES ON THE STILL WATER.
HE THINKS OF A GIRL AT HOME, LIKE A DARK SWALLOW IN ITS NEST. HE THINKS OF A GIRL AT HOME, WAITING LIKE A DARK SWALLOW FOR HER MATE. [Li Po]
THE DRAGONFLY
DRAGONFLY WINGS ... SHINING SILKEN GARMENTS. NOW MY HEART IS ACHING. WHO WILL GIVE IT REST?