from Spring Songs (6)

Lightning in the western sky over mountains.
East are riverstones of stars blinking through

the swift current of clouds.
Wherever I look across a rainy day and night

I see the soundless ocean floor of mind:
Silt of words that have not shifted for months

covers the breasthook of an overturned boat.
From a calm black gap in the burdenboards

the season shoots and flowers like an octopus

15 thoughts on “from Spring Songs (6)”

Ron April 20, 2015 at 11:41 pm

“…riverstones of stars…” — Sublime!

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Jeff Schwaner Post authorApril 21, 2015 at 12:02 am

Thanks Ron! I have enjoyed your poems these last few days…but stop writing jisei, eh?

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1. Ron April 21, 2015 at 12:21 am
  
  Writing my death poem
  my friends gathered around —
  I decided to stay
2. Jeff Schwaner Post authorApril 21, 2015 at 7:14 am
  
  THAT is one of my favorite poems ever. I’m going to have to take some credit for it!
3. Ron April 21, 2015 at 10:39 am
  
  You DESERVE credit! It’s a royal wonder that it’s not a typo jungle! I laughed the whole time I was keyboarding it. 🙂

Mary Tang April 21, 2015 at 3:14 am

Reblogged this on Life is But This and commented:
My translation:
西山天上電閃光
東方雲泉石似星

每逢早晚雨不停
文思沉海久無聲

一朝春湧語牙牙
芽發八爪海上花

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Jeff Schwaner Post authorApril 21, 2015 at 7:16 am

Thank you again, Mary, for this wonderful collaboration. More little songs to come…I hope you keep hearing them in Chinese…

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1. Mary Tang April 22, 2015 at 1:27 am
  
  Hello from Stanton Library; my internet is down 😦 See my new post for details 🙂
2. Mary Tang April 25, 2015 at 1:39 am
  
  The Chinese has a saying, ‘騎虎難下 –once you’re on a tiger it’s hard to dismount’ 🙂 Guess I’m on board now until spring turns to summer.
3. Mary Tang May 15, 2015 at 4:15 pm
  
  Latest version of my translation in Chinese and audio file in Cantonese now posted on reblog.

Ann Koplow April 21, 2015 at 4:09 am

Lightening woke me up tonight and I found this, Jeff. Sometimes, I love lightening. Thank you.

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5h2o April 21, 2015 at 7:13 pm

‘Silt of words’ — wonderful!

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Jeff Schwaner Post authorApril 21, 2015 at 9:52 pm

Thank you, most appreciated.

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M Ross Henry April 21, 2015 at 10:36 pm

Get out. This is fantastic.

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Jeff Schwaner Post authorApril 21, 2015 at 11:18 pm

I got out, but came back. Thank you.

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Translations from the English