I found myself in a slumber
wiping wonder from my tired eyes
bear-hugging blackness
arm wrestling badgers
playing tag with the monster
underneath the stairs;
I found myself tongue kissing rolling thunderheads
climbing trees, stretching fingers
to catch bolts of lightning
soothed by sirens, not seeking shelter
looking up in hailstorms, mouth agape
swallowing the largest stone;
I found myself glaring at the sun
eating handfuls of dirt
mowing lawns barefoot
savoring each burr & goathead
Cupped in the palm of his hand
Saturday morning
Still
Quietly alone
Echoes and pinwheels
Still
In the corner
Warm coffee
Still
With regret
You who’ve come and seen my hometown hue
Would know the news from there, I must presume:
That day you left, outside the window view,
Had winter’s plums begun to wear their bloom?
Away in southern lands the red beans lay
As spring returns to send its blooms above;
Desiring you I pluck a big bouquet,
To hold a thing that marks our tender love.
Chinese
相思
紅豆生南國，
春來發幾枝。
願君多采擷，
此物最相思。
Pronunciation
Xiāng Sī
Hóng dòu shēng nán guó，
Chūn lái fā jī zhī。
Yuàn jūn duō cǎi xié，
Cǐ wù zuì xiāng sī。
Literal Character Translation
Pin up my love with clothes pins.
I dreamed about a December morn
Alone, I sit serene within a bamboo grove,
At ease, I strum the lute and hum a song.
Unknown into the forest deep I’ll rove
Until the shining moon has sung along.
Chinese
竹里館
獨坐幽篁裡，
彈琴復長嘯。
深林人不知，
明月來相照。
Pronunciation
Zhú Lǐ Guǎn
Dú zuò yōu huáng lǐ，
Dàn qín fù cháng xiào。
Shēn lín rén bù zhī，
Míng yuè lái xiāng zhào。
Literal Character Translation
