Gu Cheng

The Return 

don't go to sleep, don't

Dear, the road is long yet

don't go too near

the forest's enticements, don't lose hope

write the address

in snowmelt on your hand

or lean on my shoulder

as we pass the hazy morning

lifting the transparent storm curtain

we’ll arrive at where we are from

a green disk of land

around an ancient pagoda

there I will guard

your weary dreams

and drive off the flocks of nights

leaving only bronze drums, and the sun

while beyond the pagoda

tiny waves quietly

crawl up the beach

and draw back trembling 

Nameless Flowers: Selected Poems of Gu Cheng, New York: George Braziller Inc., 2005

Gu Cheng

The Source

springwater stairs

a horse on a chain tripping through trees

all of my flowers come from dreams

my flame

the ocean's green hue

the strongest soldier in the clear sky

all of my dreams come from water

link upon link of sunlight's chain

air brought in a wooden box

the postures of the fish and birds

lowly I have spoken your name

Nameless Flowers: Selected Poems of Gu Cheng, George Braziller Inc., 2005