(Recluse) Thatch Hut, Constant Change (Poems)

Summer streams through open door,
wandering crane passes through. Dust

drift in ochre disturbs meditation. No
immortals here – fly south to Jade Peaks.

~~~

Moonlit frame, wandering fox investigates,
idles, scampers away. On waking paw prints

line the dirt. Slumber,
or some vulpin forage?

~~~

Autumn wind brings golden maple to
my empty door. I go to sweep, long

ago friend at my gate with wine. Both
of us let this moment unfurl, and unfurl.

~~~

Ashen giants turn black, yellow flash,
echo’s blast. Darkened doorway,

Dragons contest Heavenly realms.
I return to my afternoon slumber.

~~~

Roll and clatter disturb reading. By
my door an imperial carriage lost in a

confusion of pines. I tell them where to
go but they must find the way.

~~~

Morning mist ambles through open door,
sleep clouded. Awake I sweep what the

willows missed. Yellow dragonfly zips through
fog. Mind wanders – what to plant, and how.

~~~

Stream song by night, jeweled candles
drift past empty door. The town celebrates

the lantern festival, colours flow out to
sea, lights guide me home.

~~~

Forage on mist peaks. Herbs line
my basket fragrant swirls on night streams.

arriving late to find a poem
fluttering on my empty door.

~~~

Willow catkins tumble through my
door, geese prints mark first snows.

Tea smoke beckons me – later I’ll
see where the geese flew.

~~~

Clatter of ploughs tumble from water
buffalo. Trailing farmer slips, and amidst

tumbling rain and soggy robes, an invite
for tea. From my door, they graze under pines.

~~~

Our cup of wine outlasts the
Shihyu wind. Many legged dragon saunters

by, breath of fire crackers. By the open
door we laugh like five willow sages.

~~~

Inspired by a comment by K (http://manicddaily.wordpress.com/ – an excellent blog. You should go there sometime. You know, if you want to.) about how some drafts of mine seemed like different views outside a hut. So I ran with that. Again K, a thousand thank you’s to you.

Some poems that inspired me: http://skyraftwanderer.blogspot.com/2012/02/poems-of-china.html

Pictures (It’s a long one):

First picture: http://nigensha.co.jp/kokyu/en/sr10.html

Second picture: http://www.atlantisqueen.com/front-page/2011/12/26/animal-totems-the-fox.html

Third picture: http://noemata.net/1996-2002/680.html

Fourth and Tenth picture: http://www.art-virtue.com/painting/history/sung/sung.htm

Fifth picture : http://history.cultural-china.com/en/50History9366.html

Sixth picture: http://yeahverygood.com/Chinese-Scroll-Painting-Butterfly-Flowers-by-Ma-Quan-1002.html

Seventh picture: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2011-02/15/content_12018825.htm

Eighth picture: http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/painting-tang-yin-landscape-5.php

Ninth picture: http://www.xabusiness.com/china-resources/ming-dynasty-paintings-3.htm

Eleventh picture: http://www.5d8z.com/dragon/ChineseDragons.htm