“The Blue-Green Stream” by Wang Wei (Lowell version) [w/ Audio]

Every time I have started for the Yellow Flower River,
I have gone down the Blue-Green Stream,
Following the hills, making ten thousand turnings.
We go along rapidly, but advance scarcely one hundred li.
We are in the midst of a noise of water,
Of the confused and mingled sounds of water broken by stones,
And in the deep darkness of pine-trees.
Rocked, rocked,
Moving on and on,
We float past water-chestnuts
Into a still clearness reflecting reeds and rushes.
My heart is clean and white as silk;
it has already achieved Peace;
It is smooth as the placid river.
I long to stay here, curled up on the rocks,
Dropping my fish-line forever.

NOTE: This version was translated by Florence Ayscough and adapted by Amy Lowell in the book: Fir-Flower Tablets (1921) New York: Houghton Mifflin, p. 123

Mountain Deception [Haiku]

I glance upward;
the mountain seems closer;
I feel colder.

Fly [Lyric]

They say that each and every single fly
Has five thousand lenses in each eye:
A three-sixty view from toes to rump,
And thus I become the fly-swatting chump.

Strange Land [Haiku]

tropic reversal:
tawny grass of April;
lush green October.

DAILY PHOTO: A Strange Plant Stumbled Upon in the Savanna

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Marmot [Lyric Poem]

I came across a chubby marmot
In some puffed up outer garment.
A fur coat over its furry coat?
Or mainlining from the gravy boat?

Reunited [Haiku]

water parts,
rounding a boulder,
then is reunited.

DAILY PHOTO: Huayna Picchu

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Elephant [Lyric Poem]

The mighty, mighty elephant
Isn't known for being elegant,
But you can't disbar him from your soiree,
And expect he'll show on moving day.

DAILY PHOTO: Portrait of a Monkey [Lop Buri]

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