Rose

Rose
Laijon Liu 20150213

piercing thorns cannot shield your fragrant heart
ruby folded layers tightly clench your secret yearning
You, with Aphrodite's beauty, praised by the world

and doomed to be the crown jewel
only to be cut off from branch, and sold
as symbol of love bonding

Two Great Yuan Qu Poems

Two Great Yuan Qu Poems

Autumn Thoughts
by Ma ZhiYuan (1250-1321)
秋思
马致远 

枯藤,老树,昏鸦, 
Withered vine, Old tree, Dusky crows,
小桥,流水,人家, 
Small bridge, Flowing water, Folk's hut,
古道,西风,瘦马。 
Ancient road, West wind, Thin horse.
夕阳西下，
Evening sun declines westward,
断肠人在天涯。
Heart-broken person at far corner of the earth.

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Autumn
by Bai Pu (1226-1306)
秋
白朴 

孤村,落日,残霞,
Solitary village, Setting sun, Sparse rosy clouds,
轻烟,老树,寒鸦,
Scarce [chimney] smoke, Old trees, Cold crows,
一点飞鸿影下。
Beneath the dot-shadow of a flying swan,
青山,绿水，
Green hills, Emerald water
白草,红叶,黄花。
Bleach grass, Red leaves, [and] Yellow blooms.

Red Pill and Blue Pill

Red Pill and Blue Pill
Laijon Liu 20150202

I swallowed the red pill, and I saw Alice
float facedown in lime spring river
her blond hair and pink polkadot skirt 
covered by rose petals and blood
slowly disperse in the tear ripples

I swallowed the blue pill, and I saw Alice
chase a black-suit rabbit, and fall down 
into a black hole, infinite gold light-rays
swirl, myriad pink distorted oval balloons
and her bell laughter forever echo 

It was a bored drowsy afternoon
on the riverbank I saw Alice and her sister
they were fishing and catching butterflies
by accident I tripped over, by accident
my shotgun discharged.