I AM THE RIVER LONG

(A lamentation on China’s long river)

On Qinghai’s plains where snow so deep the Mountains hide in shame,

I wait for heat to wet my feet that I might spring again

along that track I’ve run before,

and run around from town to town from Heavens Seat, through Heavens Gate to City-on-the-Sea;

I am the River Long.

For eons now I’ve made this trek because you need me more and more;

Your myriad mouths demanding more;

I don’t know why, in ever pressing needs you rudely, crudely rock the cradle of my bed

and in its stead

do meanly cast the things which you despise upon my bed,

my very heart, when I for you do care so much,

I am the River Long.

So many poets past and gone have sat upon my shoulders crying;

Crying as only they can cry, the tears which from their hearts are torn,

And mourn the passing of my soul; and yet though their lament is deep,

Does not revive me;

Do they despise me?,

It does not surprise me!

I am The River Long.

My Yellow sister, twins we are, each flowing forth from womb of heaven,

Has just like me, served you so well you even call her ‘Cradle’;

Though pleading loud and long for years,

she now is broken down to tears,

For every year, one half,

no more!,

her annual tears, even though from selfsame snow we’ve grown

to bring you life and love and lore,

Do flow no more,

I am her brother, for how long!

I am The River Long.

The day and night to us are one, we’ve always run and run,

From setting sun to setting sun;

And though I toil upon my bed, I never sleep,

That I might bring that needed life to myriad souls who use me and abuse me,

I am her brother,

we are your mother, for how long?

I am The River Long

You plant your hopes in Yellow Earth with faith in me that I will ever flow

And they will grow because of me and bring to life your dreams,

You build your ships and launch them on my face to take the produce of your dreams to City-On-The-Sea,

My pain is gain to you; and from my veins with avarice you take from me the surplus of my labors, to feed your young and old, your feeble and your strong and leave me crippled,

For how long?

I am The River Long

In mountains, valleys,  deep and strong, I gather waters fresh and clear

From bright white clouds so pure and clean their tears as crystal soak my head

With waters sweet and shivering, that I might flow to plains below to bring to you refreshment;

The mountains are my bones; yet in their silent hills of green

Where crystal drops fall from the clouds, I ever feel the press of your machines in pain

Because you seek to steal from me that which does not enrich you and surely leaves me poorer.

For how long?

I am The river Long

Water I am and ‘tis what I’ll be, perhaps in times both far and future, that is my dream!

Its what I need, its what you need; its what I bring, its what you take,

For only I can bring it down, for only I can gather.

Do you have the patience to catch a drop of rain? Or two or three?

But yet I stretch my fingers forth into each crevasse and each nook, to make a brook, to make a stream, to bring you dreams to life,

Why do you not love me as before, as in ancient times; my love for you, without thought of self,

eternal.

For how long?

I am The River Long

I am the River…..

I am …………long

I am …………..

How long?

The Beggar By The Road