Following Du Fu For A Second Time: This Western Sky This Morning, Orion On My Left Shoulder Poem by Dennis Ryan

Monday morning, October 24,2022 at 6: 45 a.m.; Wednesday morning, October 26 at 11: 16 a.m. and 12: 15 p.m.; Thursday aftgernoon Otober 27 at 1: 47 p.m.; today, November 7,2022 at 9: 17 a.m.; finished at 10: 33 a.m.

This western sky this morning above the back deck,
the house roof, Orion's skirt/belt—the three stars in line
just above the line of oak tree tops on my left shoulder,
the Bear he fends off "by sword and shield" 剣と盾で
in my stead on my right—my two brothers fled, in flight,
as per Du Fu "thinking of [his own] brothers on a moonlit
night", no one left to tell him if they live or die 生きるか
死ぬか; my situation somewhat the opposite of Du Fu's—
no one left to tell my story to... Should I live? Whether I die?
If I should perish? Parish? (Yes... that one in Dorset.
Where they buried his heart. Yes, St. Michael's Church,
Stinsford. There a clue, a key to solve this—where to
seek counsel now, Du Fu, in a time of war where we show
our colors true—our red, white, green, blue and yellow—
such is this covert yellow cowardice dressed in blue...
my own brother who with? With who? (Clearly not with us.
This with a certainty. これは確実に) The other sight unseen
for twenty-three years though he lives two hours away
only. But that "only"—only reading thought—yes, reading
my ideas even now as they come into my head in language
as I am thinking them—that power on display though hidden,
covert. This one key to Blue success now expressed
herein, in this poem. And you reader? When you
are old, older, settled in your ways, pay me a visit
across local highways, sign me at local intersections,
and I will be there, with, and for you と、そして
あなたのために as this poem is for you, si, es para ti,
este poema, este libro de mi vida watching Orion ready
himself, gird himself on these early autumn mornings.

剣と盾で ken to tate de—by sword and shield
生きるか死ぬか ikiru ka shinu ka—live or die
これは確実にkore wa kakujitsuni—with a certainty
と、そしてあなたのためにto, soshite anata no tame ni—with, and for you.