By Yuan Changming
Tuner: for Qi Hong
While still in Mayuhe on the other Side of this world, you somehow gave me An air-tuner, supposedly to help me Learn erhu, the violin with only two strings As a re-educated youth during the Cultural Revolution, which you somehow asked me To return to you before I took my long journey Towards the West (Like the monkey king?) Now almost half a century Later, I forget how to play the instrument But I can still sing my youthful song of Love in perfect tune with your chuckles Like a kite whose string remains in Your hand however far or high I have been flying
Reach out in Yearning: for Qi Hong
From the heart of night I look high up & Spot two particular stars twinkling at me As lovingly as your eyes beyond the horizon On a beach rock, I howl aloud Towards the whole pacific, & hear an echo From your call like a lost whale Amid summer raindrops, I shoot my thought of you Down through the earth, & feel a deep tremor Vibrating on the other side of this world
All Day Long: for Li Lan
More adaptable than a summer stream No less wild than a wild west wind My missing for you can flow & blow Without leaving a single trace behind Like the water or the whirl, like all that Has no shape has no shadow
Unrequited Love
You are the tall mountain across the valley That ever remains as silent as the sky Except the echo of my own calls & songs
Man’s Last Position
Against all the hardships of life is held In the very depth of his heart, where Hides a vivid portrayal of some woman
Yuan Changming hails with Allen Yuan from poetrypacific.blogspot.ca. Credits include Pushcart nominations besides appearances in Best of the Best Canadian Poetry (2008-17) & BestNewPoemsOnline, among others. Recently, Yuan published his eleventh chapbook Limerence, and served on the jury for Canada’s 44th National Magazine Awards (poetry category).
Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
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