Tag: Song dynasty

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Poetry

On the Banks of the Blue River

By George Freek

Courtesy: Creative Commons

ON THE BANKS OF THE BLUE RIVER 
(After Mei Yaochen* )

A goose floats on the river,
so near I can almost touch him.
In an ugly mood, he honks at me.
It’s what he has to say.
On this wind-blown day,
leaves fall, denuding the trees.
I can’t see that wind,
but I feel its chilling breeze.
We only know what
we can see. But who sees
the atoms in a cup of tea?
Life is a brief fantasy.
Fat clouds drift insouciantly,
then disappear. The river
wanders ambiguously,
until it’s finally swallowed
by a distant sea. I gaze
at it with querulous eyes,
And see confusion,
but that is only me.
and I’m just a momentary illusion.

*Mei Yaochen (1002-1060) Poet of the Song Dynasty

George Freek’s poetry has recently appeared in The Ottawa Arts Review, Acumen, The Lake, The Whimsical Poet, Triggerfish and Torrid Literature.

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PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL

Categories
Poetry

Thinking of My Friend

By George Freek

THINKING OF MY FRIEND 
(After Chu Hsi)

A breeze rustles the leaves
at the edge of the bay.
The moon and the stars make
night almost as clear as day.
On the lake a loon calls,
from very far away.
The lake is a calm desert.
But tonight a strong wind
will blow. Waves will beat
like furious fists against
the rocks. I feel this anger
is more real than the calm.
It’s nature’s realm.
My friend says we must 
look for the good.
I find it hard to believe.
Forgive me, my friend.
I watch a worm,
stranded in the grass,
struggling in agony,
until it finally reaches
its predetermined end.
I leave it alone,
and walk carefully home.
Chu Hsi or Zhu Xi (1130-1200) Song Dynasty philosopher
Chu Hsi’s Memorial Temple at Wuxi
Courtesy: Creative Commons

George Freek’s poetry has recently appeared in The Ottawa Arts Review, Acumen, The Lake, The Whimsical Poet, Triggerfish and Torrid Literature.

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL

Categories
Poetry

Evanescent Murmurings

By George Freek

Ou Yang Hsiu (1007-1072), a Song dynasty writer and politician who died at 65. Courtesy: Creative commons
POEM AFTER OU YANG HSIU

In my younger days,  
I was arrogant, thinking
I was wise. I had friends,
who reassured me.
Now they’re dead,
and I’m sixty-five.
I took to wine. 
It helped, but 
life moves by so fast,
nothing lasts. Alone,
I watch the river
and its eternal flow.
I sip a cup of tea,
listening to clamouring geese.
They make me smile.
I think, perhaps,
they’re laughing at me.

George Freek’s poetry has recently appeared in The Ottawa Arts Review, Acumen, The Lake, The Whimsical Poet, Triggerfish and Torrid Literature.

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL