sing, all ye Han River birds at dusk

sing, all ye Han River birds at dusk
play tag around guzheng tall grass 
bent like guitar strings in Beck's Bolero
chase your wet shadows across glistening rocks
race your kindred spirit across the stream 
hide and seek in Taichung terrarium 
hover, dive, and soar on shore
over bikers elongated in the setting sun
over earth masters stretched to the breaking point
dance the two-wing shuffle o'er man-made ledges
be loud and fast in our absence
making sense out of nonsense 
sing ye wing'd heroes of nature
play melodies over road motor mumble
bring scenes of gleaming greens and bowing boughs  
as the sun sinks low to kiss golden patties
to fragile nested shelters fly
when music fades and stars begin to shine 
before your orchestra is drowned 
in a blanket of headlights and gnats
heralding bats' high frequency song
till aviary diners return at dawn

November 7, 2016

observe the sour wild strawberry

observe the sour wild strawberry
green and lowdown 
growing in the happy garden
nurtured until plump
squirreled behind chicken wire 
weeded and watered 
until ready to be plucked
but eaten away by ants
never got the chance

Han River banks are overgrown
hiding myriad screeching birds 
bending boughs of tall grass
singing songs in the soft Tan-Zih breeze
even egrets swoop to land
hear the brisk cacophony 
well prepared for winter
unlike the sour wild strawberry

breezily, the rice stalks dream into
crackling pops of dissipation 
boy-shaped cloud drifts
from skies of mother earth
under her skirt 
attached to a sustaining runner
a sour wild strawberry revealed  
consuming the fumes of fragrant nights

November 5, 2016