Departure From Spring

Until the last apple petal shriveled
I just found 
my favorite spring
has gone away quietly / without a farewell.
The variegated sunlight bickering through 
the denser shade of trees 
is burning my sensitive eyes and 
bewildered heart as well.

Let me flutter my wings of butterfly
to fly back to the dreamlike times!
Let me grow into a high pear blossom tree
and dance in a gust of wind
with sleeves waving between heaven and earth 
like snow;
or be the cherry blossoms drifting profusely
whose fragrant soul with a pink train
overwhelm the lawn,
overwhelm the lake,
overwhelm all the meandering and sentimental memories.

Let me land in a night with the full moon.
Let me stand into a slender white cornel
with the water-like moonlight over me and
make a wish devoutly,
which is as cool as the night dew；
or melt into the amaranthine afterglow  
which is overcastting the sky in a drunk dusk
with the crape myrtles all over the hills together
then fall into 
a tipsy and gooey dream together.

Let me garland the sun-like primroses
then run and shout in a gale with my feet bare 
to pursue the resource of the light!
Let me comb my long hair into 
the fine and delicate willow branches
then strike each chord in the throbbing heart in a breeze;
or be an illusory almond blossom tree or magnolia 
in the misty rain,
so my distant homestead in my hand 
can overlap the familiar tendernesss so closely.

Let my tentacles sweep across the edge of the lightning
and hide among the thick beds of pond reeds 
reborn / like the ducklings;
then throw myself into the colorful field
gather some fresh and mild joy* with bitter or sweet taste
the aftertaste is between my lips and teeth.
Let me make a teapot of fresh tea 
with the spring-like flowing light at noon
without any reason.
Let me lay down my head on a pillow of 
the scents of grass and warm sunshine
listen attentively / how a flower blooms and fades, 
then chew the old verse while 
sipping the sweet and crystal flavor of Spring.

Let my ethereal sight fly beyond 
the float clouds in the high sky 
and dive into the sea of Spring deeply.
Swim, swim
like a playful kid, who forgets the returning time,
won’t come back shortly;
or be a lover out of mind
drag the bottom of dress tightly,
which is drawing out to leave determinedly,
and choke speechlessly
even die
to assume thus stay in Spring permanently.

Until the last apple petal withered
I understand finally 
my enamored spring
has gone away slowly / without a farewell.
An oriole sings her mellow music outside my window
while I drown in my departed dream deeply.
I disregard her idly.
She heaves a sigh, then flies away.

Min Katherine Liu
Virginia Tech
WVArts Solitude
Spring 2016