Gifting The Palace To Eunuch Qingnu - Loose Improvs On Several Poems By Li Yu (937-978, Tang Dynasty, China)based Upon Translations By Luo Zhihai (1954 -, China)- Original Draft Poem by Warren Falcon

for Tien Yi and M.G. Reed

This way of living has
grown old as am I. Being
that it is almost spring I
will be happy enough
wandering about hoping
to undo my deep shame
for depending too much
for too long upon others,
for being surrounded by
pricy man-made things,
high art, when natural
beauty turns my eyes
into fire.

Quinu, though you have
toiled for me all these many
years, we are good friends.
By your sincerity I am spoiled
mistrusting instant handshakes,
jaded smiles like highest blossoms
one can never inspect up close,
these are suspect as ever. I
know the truth now - that I am
forever low though my status
is considered high.

So now I flee shyly into the dusty world.
I have wised up, have burned
the nuanced codes where pinkies
have become daggers for beheadings.
I shall go into spring snow for
who is high and who is low?
The crocus does not compare
itself to cow or crow. I shall try
somehow to see through new
eyes how the river ice begins
to break and flow and I will follow

evening songs still singing in
me of common good in all folk,
and back room tunes about entitled
asses braying threats and lies
- such pathetic jokes!

Qingnu, I stoke the fire in
the hearth for you and take
with me its well tended glow.

All that was mine
is yours now.

My heart too, always,
if you will have it.