Response To Night At the River

This is my translation of a Chinese poem and my own modern-day reply Night at the River Tang Shigu Lonely autumn on the river Fishermen’s lights dot the night Lift my head to see the moon tip faint gleam upon the trees Shore birds startled by the shimmering waves Soon tuck their heads again in sleep Cold dew clings damp and keeps the fireflies from flight My response to Tang Shigu’s Night at the River The fireflies live in books The fishermen gone, pleasure boats trace shining lines through city lights arranged in rows, blocks and sheets with scant place for moonbeams, even full Our birds know only darkness trimmed Ignore electric glow and neon flash Only autumn stays the same, damp and grey With fading colours, naked trees This constancy of the heart’s lonely sigh