“Spring Rise” by Fan Chengda [w/ Audio]

In Spring, the waters rise --
Shore grass sways with breezes,
And geese drift right beside;
Boats glide as the stream pleases.
Yon pagoda looks far,
but feels quite close.

Streamside, one feels a chill.
Fields have yet to be plowed --
Not while the torrents spill.
Mulberry limbs are bowed.
Soon we'll have a taste,
and harvest cocoons.

NOTE: The title of this poem is 蝶 戀 花. Xu Yuanchong uses the quite literal “Butterflies in Love with Flowers” as his translated title. I chose differently because a wet Spring is the throughline of the poem and, well, there are no explicit butterflies (or flowers) in the poem [only their potential.] Of course, maybe that’s exactly why the original is a great title.

Dead Tree Stillness [Haiku]

clouds drift upon
mirror clear waters;
dead tree stillness.

DAILY PHOTO: Kura River Scenes, Tbilisi

Cold Stream [Haiku]

Spring flows:
frigid and silt gray --
rush down the mountain.

DAILY PHOTO: Netravati Headwaters

Image

To the Sea [Haiku]

a leaf speeds over
the falls; is trapped below,...
bobs to the surface.

Sound & Silence [Haiku]

insects chirp
under autumn skies; the
river runs silent.

DAILY PHOTO: Zambezi Views

DAILY PHOTO: Měi Lún Creek [美崙溪]

Willows [Haiku]

willows dangle
over flowing waters:
reaching not touching.