A Mortal Life, Born of One Thought · Stubborn and Foolish by Nature · 68 / 102
Lou Shang Qu · Night Coming On
Outside the tower a moored boat runs with the waves after the moon; inside the tower someone braces against the battering of the double doors. In a panic, fearing the west wind, guarding the long night; inside the cage of dust a madness breeds.
Often I watch the two shadows flanking the lamp-wick, and with bare hands snap the sword to put down the savage dream. The tall wutong sways, its snow-fragrance soft; the sky turns white, and I am awake alone for countless ages.
Glosses—
put down: to suppress, to hold down;
snow-fragrance: the white flowers of the wutong tree;
countless ages (wàn sī nián): short for yìwàn sī nián, an immense span of years.
*This piece is an original work. If you repost it, please credit the original author Guang Zhi Shiyi; any infringement, once discovered, will be pursued to the full extent of the law. In addition, the accompanying illustration comes from the internet and belongs to its original artist, Hehewu.