I'd forgotten I wrote this, but someone hoicked it out yesterday..
To a much-loved Chinese poet and drunkard
Dear Li Po,
strange things happen to poets
during their life,
especially those who like wine.
But now, more than a thousand years
after your suicide,
men have named a crater on
the planet Mercury with your name…
Mercury, the planet the Greeks called
Hermes Apollo, messenger of gods and poets;
the shining one;
although men have not been there yet.
When they do, they may find you
sitting in your crater, watching the Moon
(we think it will appear to you
two times a day instead of once…)
and drinking wine with Uriah;
(and your shadows will be there too,
tall on the crater’s slope…)
you’re teaching him Chinese;
he’s translating your poems into English
with your approval.
He’d like that. We hope you would.
A strange place for immortals to drink wine;
but poets do and say strange things;
that’s why we love them, just as
children love surprises,
dear Li Po.
I love Li Po. Thanks for the smile this morning.
LI PO is reme,bered for his two great loves poetry and winePerhaps the latter inspired the former
What a lovely idea and a great storyline. I really enjoyed reading it.
And I love this poem - and you Li Po. Oh, I almost forgot... I am also rather partial to a glass of good Shiraz. Love, Allie ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥