Dawn spreads early luster across the east.
A clamor of island birds just startled away,
and lying in a bed at the mouth of Fish Creek,
I hear unseen paddles fade into distances.
Sunrise thins mists away, and I start to see
how replete an expanse my river course is:
young women rising late as usual, exquisite
lit reflections traced among drifting froth,
gibbons down to drink, skittish at the river,
otters surfacing to sacrifice captured fish.
On a boat, sorrow's always far off. And today
I'll sail clear skies all wide - open radiance!
By Meng Hao Jan, part of the Mountain Poems of Meng Hao Jan, translated by David Hinton.
