“A One-String Harp” by Lu Ji [w/ Audio]

When an author composes too short a poem,
it trails off with a lonely feeling
like looking down at solitude with no friends
or peering into the vast sky, disconnected.
One string on a harp is crisp and sweet
but sings without resonance and harmony.

Translation by Tony Barnstone and Chou Ping in: The Art of Writing (1996) Boston: Shambhala Publications.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.