Poetry

"Beyond the Great Mountains"

By: Ed Young

Beyond the great mountains

Far to the east, a vast fertile plain.

In its sky, mist rose and fell, rain water gathering, river cascading

Down cliffs and boulders, through valleys into fields.

As sun, moon kept watch, earth gave birth

To sprouts above, metal below

Trees of hanging grains, corn, wheat, millet and rice.

In winter's ice, summer's fire, more plants flourished.

One of drooping leaves, bamboo; of even-rowed, leek;

Another of sprawling vines, squash; of fuzzy stems, hemp.

To the west, where birds roost, a rock of wonder, salt, was found.

To the south, rice fermented into wine.

A precious stone embraced heaven and earth, jade.

This was middle empire, China.

Our group chose this poem because it illustrated what China and Asia looked like before modern culture.    Being able to create a visual image of what Asia looked like is valuable.

"Cat Heaven"

By: Lo Ch'ing

Translated from Chinese by: Joseph R. Allen

Out of the cat's dream

floats a lavish mouse banquet

As mice sleep deep

in that aroma-soaked dream

Dreaming of

a cat

Eating dreams

for sustenance

Our group chose to post "Cat Heaven" because cats represent a myriad of positive things in Asian mythology.  For example, cats represent protection from evil because they are able to see so well in the dark.  They also represent good luck and good fortune.