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 | 
