蓉子詩選

POEMS BY YUNGTZE
蓉子詩選*
FORSAKE THE HOLY, DISCARD WISDOM 棄聖絕智

Huh, planting flowers is better than writing poems
How about a relaxing jaunt to watch the egrets
Or three big laughs
because laughter benefits body and mind

The world is vast and beautiful
If you have time why not travel
Or go to the fields and plant rice seedlings
— when the villages are short of talent
I plant roses I plant hibiscus
I plant poinsettias
I give them each a pinch of earth
Usually I give them only fresh water
And they respond auspiciously with
Glad green
Touching red

I write poetry in anticipation of a flash of inspiration
Under a burning blood alcohol lamp
Even sacrifice sleep, fun, and friendship
In exchange for poverty, cold, and torture
Don’t you see the wind blow outside raising the dust?
The price of goods goes up
While the soul falls

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By Yungtze 蓉子
Translated by John J. S. BALCOM 陶忘機