pre-sentiment:
Li Qingzhao's
life was harder than mine
and her
poetry better.
Still, to draw off some
longing
from my
heart, from my
face,
I may put something down on
paper.
poem:
There were
peonies by the roadside.
I went to see my
family
going
north while you went
south
to the
magnolias,
returning home
All the blossoms of
summer
can't raise my
spirits today.
envoy:
I heard
someone say:
why can't I hold onto you longer than is necessary?
and I understood that just a little
too well.
Come back, you
cherry blossoms!
You make
my heart hurt when you
leave.
-- Wintersweet
May 14, 2000