Li Po

Autumn Air by Li Po

In brisk autumn air, the moon glows orange bright. Falling leaves swirl and tangle, blown by gusts pursuing gusts. Over and over, a roosting jackdaw flutters up in alarm. Separated, each of us broods how Long till eyes set eyes on the other. Till then, every day embitters, and every night starts tears. Translated by Stanton Hager in Huangshan Poems from the T'ang Dynasty (Cape Cod: 21st Editions, 2010)