Hi Colin,
I like the story here but would like to see more lyricism in a poem that is
interesting but apparently lacking in poetic technique. I think the word
some would say is "prosy". Is this a translation by any chance?
bw
James
>From: hui dewar <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: newsub/curtain
>Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 21:31:30 +0100
>
> I don't know if the italics will come through on this - let's try.\\
>
>
>
>
>Bamboo curtain
>
>
>"You're fit at sixty", I shout
>
>as Uncle and Aunt
>
>disappear uphill
>
>through the bamboo forest.
>
>
>
>"That's from Xinjiang",
>
>Uncle laughs as I catch up.
>
>
>
>We were shepherds in the Tienshan mountains
>
>for thirty years - our punishment.
>
>I'd said what I thought at the time
>
>and my wife was from a rich family.
>
>
>
>All day we have no view.
>
>Bamboo on either side
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>thins to a thicket of oak
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>at altitude.
>
>
>
>On the way down
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>Aunt holds my daughter's hand
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>and with her stick plumbs
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>the green pipes for sound.
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>
>
>Then hazy valleys converge
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>and bamboo breaks
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>for tea and winter greens.
>
>
>
>At home, Uncle insists,
>
>
>
>"You should go to Xinjiang.
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>You'd love it there: blue sky,
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>mountains, snow for months at a stretch."
>
>
>
>"And the Uigers?" I enquire,
>
>but Aunt cuts in with lowered eyes,
>
>
>
>"You are a young man
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>and you're very interested in politics.
>
>Have some more of the seven- treasure cake."
>
>
>
>__________________________________
>
>
>
>
>
>Colin
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