Su Ben Poet Free verse

A Fool Trying To Catch Bygone Days

Although Tai-Gueng-Uang’s* wife 
did not abandon her husband but wanted 
to avoid poverty, she, now, is so sad and agonizing
because no water poured to the ground can be recovered.

Although the people say that Tai-Gueng-Uang angled 
the sun, moon, stars and clouds and winds with straight hook 
dropped in water, 

why, not speak of the time, 
this incompetent old fool, a man incapable of catching even,
with a hook and delicious bits, a smallest fish in the pond, 
scraping the ground with a broken dipper for spilled water?

The fool though knew that the opportunity is not given
to everyone who wants but is for the chosen ones,
yet walked up and down restlessly on the stage 
it was never allowed for him to step on;

now he sits on the stage where the many big and little stars
stepped on and performed their best in the applause with hand clapping, 
dropping a line faced to the empty seats in the dark and dismal theatre.  

Why the only yell of sarcasm echoes 
in the empty space however? Why not the laughter 
but the melancholic tune rings from the orchestra pit nevertheless?  
For whom the requiem rises to a chorus from backstage nonetheless?


*Chou Royal House political and military strategist and Wen Wang’s teacher. Later invested as a feudal lord of Tzi by Un Wang the son of Wen Wang.

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