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The Question Mark
Where may answer be found
to what I wish to know?
Perhaps discovered nowhere as
it's indefinite prop pose all.
If a partial answer is possible
then I'll consider closing clue.
Question is punctuated by
sphinx seeming mistory.
Answer is part of quest i on
while also apart from it.
As part relates to part and whole,
so, too, is answer to question.
Should I consider the relations
as base to right half of bulb?
A usefool but unuseful answer
since it sheds not even art. light.
Should I deem relations of circular-
ocular yin-yang pat form?
While the relations are complementary;
nevertheless, it is an abstract tu.
Interrogate point might mimitate
distant Dipper and Polaris.
Or no to do so is of
an arbitrary pattern.
Finally, should I regard the human
face to solve the enigma?
Period part is nothing as partial zero
or left closed-lidded seeyecret.
Contiguous part is incomplete no. two
or raised right eyebrow and bridge.
If sets though are linked,
they're almost opposites on my face.
High brow with shut adjoining eye:
brow low with open adjacent orb.
Maybe two sets of questions
should be asked and answers quested.
I see with one of my eyes open
another's eye multiple-mirror mine.
Dedicated to SUN Dawu (Langwuzhuang,Xu Shui,Hebei)
Langwuzhuang May 25, 2003
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Revelation
D.R. of first-water Dragon is to merry-go wheel as
d.r. of first-ring ram is to pseudo-astro contellationis.
Red dragon undulates through sea as
it spews forth words palm-gum out of bitter belly.
Dolomite-white ram treads upon earth as
it speaks with silver-sliver Wort of horned-hilt.
The sun is without and within the earth as
the moon is outside and inside the earth.
The sizeable sphere of the sun is as
the same size of the diminutive moon.
In out-of-body, I see Marie dye her hair as
zinc-white strands turn auburn coloured.
Then, molten mass erupts and as
it meets the sea there ascends cloud of steam.
No confusion when Jan us sun tops astral goldy as
it stretches immeasurably and lasts forever.
The snow transforms to hue of pink as
crimson sun sets and rose moon rises.
Behold, there are 3hree, freeze, pilllared supports as
forehead of rainbow, face of sun and feet of fire.
Lo, three are there: unequalled,unexcelled and unique as
is seen, was heard and altogether will be known.
Sunlight is: starlight was: enlightenment will be as
reflection was and moonlight is not.
The alpha is, was, and altogether will be 16, 17, 18 as
beta was 15 and is not 51.
Sixty-six year old black hen strutted herself as
cock crowed thrice ekhe ekho echo.
Lewd-lust lure of scarlet starlet as
not real, but dead-ended and damned.
Rams arms mars held swore-sword as
hrutr hurtled bloodcurdling howl.
A candlewick wickedly spluttered as
tallow combusted in hold's hollow bowels.
The pitch hull fell 77 counts on roller waver as
its body heaved twice times in extent.
Twenty-twenty eyeslighted by lunar shadedown as
white plate Chang E to copperish sphere.
Ram moulted, forsake lamb that stands on sea sand as
prayer wheels will wheel and bells will peel?
Setthree will bring bountiful rain as
will fill full the dam basin and empty dragon.
Mare Fecunditatis will turn pastel blue as
the eyelid openeth and the pupil shutteth.
Cottontail rabbit will mix elixir of life as
it leaps forward toward intercalary day.
The white sail will weather wind as
much as 98 times and twofold with wind.
Burning heat will be dispelled from heart as
man's son shall rise from flesh to father.
Quake-shake base to totter like a double pair-of-stilts as
the wall of twelve foundations to stand upright.
Multiplicity of 1610001000 be numberallcalendric unit as
the unity of the Word be alphabeticoded sign.
Dedicated to SUN Dawu (Langwuzhuang,Xu Shui,Hebei)
Elmira 2000
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The Jar
For years sits jar on window sill
Seemingly defying age until
Someone sometime should decide
To toss crystal glass vessel aside.
Yet, sealed jar does far from nothing,
As cyclic process unseen by cast eye;
Whereinsoever, a crystal iced something
Turns viscous then does gasify.
From one, to other, to another:
Transform and change and alter;
One, then two together,
They're there three gather.
Beijing 2000
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One Long Night
There is no artist nor hand's sketch
Without or within latticed windows;
Nonetheless, cold glass is etched
With delicately brushed ice flows.
Frozen wonderfalls cascade in
Locked-in close embrace with sky.
Stilled crystallite stalactite pin
Stalled fallout in midway why?
Devonian fronds of fern adorned
By light (against background dark)
From dim dimension they're borne
By wind driven divine spark.
Dalian 2003
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The Recluse
I see view of weathered bamboo hut
which seems to grow out of forest.
My queries are made to an old man
who spent a long-life living alone.
There are many paths from Dragon Spring
that meander through the foothills.
Shall I follow the well-worn winding path
where many others before have walked?
The recluse tells me to sit awhile
and offers me leaf-laden drink of water.
He asks me what I am searching for
so high up towering Phoenix Range?
I look for the cave of an aged monk
who became a god through meditation.
The recluse tells me it must have taken
time to transform mortal to almighty.
And what else are you questing for
in your long climb up the mountain?
I look for the same cave where the god
was reincarnated as a young monk.
You'll find many who crave to be awesome gods
through mantra, miracle and meditation.
But you'll find few gods who wish to endure
a manifest destiny of mortality.
What do you do, old man, in these tangles
of crimson sumach and berried ash?
My task is to prevent a forest fire
from devastating nature's preserve.
When wayfaring travellers pass by,
I explain the risks of feckless fire.
Then he holds between his fingers spread
fanned leaf of ancient Ginkgo biloba.
Is it clear through simple way
how this leaf cleanses the unclear air?
And do you see how dew distills on leaf
to form a pure drop of vitreous water?
The recluse invites me to his fluted hut
whose walls are filled with musical scores.
He pipes on keys a soft sweet tune
inspired by whistle of woodland warbler.
I wish to bring the world his songs
though he says it's enough that I've heard.
But what if flame were to ignite your hut,
your music would be lost for all to hear?
The bird would carry aloft both my notes
to sing and tree's seeds to sprout.
And if lightning were to strike the tree
that has stood there for a millenium?
Then Willow herb would flourish where
nourished by ashes of the Ginkgo tree.
Phoenix Range 1999
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Ever Live Love
My hair is dishevelled: my arms are aslant.
My wide eyes sink under skin and bone.
May my grief be gone with the wind.
May my sorrow be washed away with tears.
Where are you my dearest darling?
Where are you my forever and a day?
I want to walk the world to unite with you.
I want to swim the sea to smile for you.
The wind blows cold on the barren bluffs.
So I knit you a scarf with forget-me-nots.
Let your lust kindle my fire.
Let your love sustain my flame.
Where are you my dewdrop?
Where are you my inspiration?
I thirst for you as parched earth relishes rain.
I hunger for you as darkened night needs daylight.
Twenty-four hundred years ago, I was mountain flower.
Six hundred years ago, I was fretted finger board.
You be the one to admire my beauty.
You be the one to strike my chord.
Where are you my sentimental attachment?
Where are you my other half and whole heart?
I endure duress to look for you.
I suffer silence to listen for you.
(Penghu) Makung 1999
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La Lune
Selene, qui est un professeur d'allemand,
attend de recevoir un poste pour
la vie a l'Universitat Leipzig.
Le poete philosophique lui dit que la plupart
des professeurs de langue sont reellement philosophes.
Leur amour bat d'ondes sonores,
cependant une complication survient.
Le philosophe Democritique croit qu'il l'aime aussi.
Elle est exaltee par son attention,
mais est confondue par cet amour triangulaire.
La lumiere du soleil--composee de deux faces--
eclaire le visage de la lune meniscale.
Elle est baignee dans une averse laiteuse de rayons reflechis
II
Le poete est la lumiere qui parait se coucher.
Le philosophe est la lumiere qui parait se lever.
La vie satisfait un poete.
Peut-etre que le soleil ne se levera pas demain.
La logique contente un philosophe.
Le soleil semble toujours se lever comme il se levera demain.
Un poete regarde un argument logique et demande "Pourquoi pas?".
Un philosophe ecoute un son de la vie et interroge "Pourquoi?".
Partout ou les sentiments sont intenses,
la logique est insuffisante.
Partout ou il y a une logique froide,
il y a peu d'amour.
III
Elle examine les caracteristiques de la lumiere
se refractant prismatiquement et
se reflechissant paraboliquement sur ses lunettes.
En jumelle, elle pense qu'elle doit choisir entre la particule et l'onde.
Comment sont-ils drift rift-rent?
Est-il un choix entre Apollonian Recht und Dionysian Rausch?
L'oeil de son esprit opte pour la particule
qui rencontre le cratere concave de Democrite
car l'onde apparait changer par hazard.
En effet, quand elle s'approche de celle ci,
elle n'observe pas que la vague se transforme encore une fois.
L'onde lui murmure que la particule est egalement dynamique.
Et lui chuchote tendrement que le soleil
a peut-etre deja cesse de briller.
Elle n'ecoute que d'une oreille ses chauds mots modules.
Est-ce mon imagination ou est-ce que je ressens un petit frisson?
Huairou 2003
In memory of Frank A. Kretschmer
(July 19, 1936 - November 16, 2003)
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I eYe 1234
all time is present
present is all time
was to be is
is to be was
it contains its seed
its seed contains it
you will forget all
all will forget you
deliver decay die disperse
disperse die decay deliver
all space is here
here is all space
ears of corn whisper
whisper ears of corn
logic lies not untruthful
untruthful lies not logic
heaven's shower wets water
water wets heaven's shower
create confuse configure collapse
collapse configure confuse create
Chongqing 1998
In memory of Frank A. Kretschmer
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Lady Ladybug
Time is a lovely ladybug,
so much to another--and me.
Now left lifeless on windshield,
her short existence shortened still.
Lady Ladybug, your span measures
in days not, but generations.
They generate in constant flux
transfering from gene to gene to gene.
The rain beads on surface glass
forming separate shapes and sizes.
Droplet drips zigzaggedly
accreting from drop to drop to drop.
Its course begins to straighten
as flood tide tears downward.
Finally, I perceive an other one
whose compound image inverts in beads.
Beijing 1992
Dedicated to LI Pei
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