Tianchi Lake
Children by the water banks, laughing long and loud
Changbai's high fine western peaks, just beneath the clouds
Currents in the water, churning in their course
Body of a sea lion, head just like a horse
Creature in the soft brown sand begins to speak his peace
High winds in the treetops, low flying winter geese
No one taking pictures, everybody still,
And then the water sought its course again, the way that waters will
No one at the lakeside now, moon up in the sky,
Nightbirds in the dragon spruce, moaning long and high
Backstroking on the surface, moonlight on its face,
Floats the tianchi monster, staring into space
Out around the temple now, narcissis in bloom
Sensors packed with sandalwood, send smoke into the room
Children in the sand outside, on their hands and knees
Sketching pictures all day long, of stranger things than these
