square of earth – IV

Square of Earth

In ancient Chinese cosmology the earth was symbolised by a square and heaven by a circle.  Each of these four pieces ( ‘corner songs’ I call them) in the ‘Square of Earth’ represent an emotional variation on the theme of my leaving Beijing after living there 13 years to return to New Zealand. They also reflect my taking the moods of any leaving as simply a rehearsal for the great final departure.

 

Square of Earth – IV
this is the corner song of thankfulness

Image of Beijing snow, with acknowledgements to VCG.COM for its use

           putting it on

such dry
winters these
years i never
even thought
to see it
before leaving
the garden
this morning
bare branch
cypress pine
pencilled in
dark under
powdery
snow
a miniature
in the look
of its fineness
high up snow
driving down
out of its
birth in
the grey
lower down

square of earth – III

Square of Earth

In ancient Chinese cosmology the earth was symbolised by a square and heaven by a circle.  Each of these four pieces ( ‘corner songs’ I call them) in the ‘Square of Earth’ represent an emotional variation on the theme of my leaving Beijing after living there 13 years to return to New Zealand. They also reflect my taking the moods of any leaving as simply a rehearsal for the great final departure.

 

Square of Earth – III
this is the corner song of affection

the author as a younger man, snapped in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Qiniandian, 祈年殿

temple of heaven*

the cypresses
in that park
with their
hour hand
of shadow
like shaggy
clocks winding
round the
the centuries
struck from
north or
south-east
in sun’s
first
toll
i stood
a twig of
time
between
them
once and
once again
felt along
their bark
the ancient
tortoise**

silly love songs

Silly love songs…
.. ‘What’s wrong with that?…’ Paul McCartney

The door of last light closing, and the sounds fining…

I.

in the rain
just before the
door of last
light closed
a blackbird
singing,
the shape
of note
your face
your face
clear as
your face

II.

of late
the sky wild
with sun
wild with
the weathers,
this heart