Memories On The Blue River
(Mei Yao Ch’en, 1002-1060)
A halo surrounds the moon - there will be wind
the boatmen say, as they talk into the night.
At dawn, brisk winds fill our sail -
we push from the bank, and scud the white waves.
But why am I here in the land of Wu -
my dreams and longings are back in Cho’u.
I dreamt one day she would come with me
on a trip like this . . . and now she is only dust.