Subscribe: by Email | in Reader

Lighter than a feather -- Diana Bridge

Guest poem submitted by Juned Shaikh:
(Poem #536) Lighter than a feather
 I

 His voice was a broken tile
 in a classical setting,
 a clay edge grating against sky.

 Now his silence speaks to
 the classified space
 in the front of the square.


 II

 A man in a corduroy hat is spinning
 over the sea. Gu Cheng,
 feeling light with a poem.

 This was in the early days when,
 the glaze not yet dry,
 he would sit watching sharp

 incredible outlines
 rise out of the harbour
 needing such a harbour

 to displace waves
 of pale terracotta branded with
 the tight stamp of a seal.

 Did he think he was like
 Any young man clearing out a pigsty
 Or a property?

 He was his mother's obstinate child.


 III

 He left behind a set of graded bells.

 He left behind
 the slow build of stories,
 tiles placed across the centuries,

 each one taking off diagonally
 from the one before.

 His pain trickled down
 through the floor boards.

 Though he left with a poem
 in his arms, he left
 behind too much.


 IV

 Now he's lighter than a feather,
 less material than snow.

 In the Duke's hunting lodge
 the stories fall in cryptic patterns

 Cold blows the north wind,
 Thick falls the snow.
 Take my hand and go, love

 Until the striped deer is back
 With its scholars and poets gather
 in the garden once more.
-- Diana Bridge
Gu Cheng was a young Chinese poet, one of the group known as the 'Misty Poets'.
He came to New Zealand in the late 1980s with his wife, taught at Auckland
University and bought a property on Waiheke Island. He committed suicide there a
few years later, after first killing his wife, and left behind a young son. Gu
Cheng was sent to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution to raise pigs.
'Obstinate child' is a reference to one of his poems. The penultimate stanza is
adapted from Waley's translation of 'North Wind', from 'The Book of Songs'.

A native of New Zealand, Diana Bridge spent a large part of her life in Asia.
Being a `diplomat's wife' helped her travel extensively in Asia (particularly
India and the Far East) and develop an insight into the socio-political
conditions. Her writing helped her create an identity of her own, and over throw
the tag of a diplomat's wife.

Juned.

32 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

Company Registry Hong Kong said...

Thank you very much for the information I really appreciate it!!

Anonymous said...

Cool blog. Check out my "psychic reading" blog. free psychic readings

Unknown said...



Golf-club can be purchased parts in addition to on their own.
Concerning start off folks, this tools presents numerous exactly
what is needed to come from a good pack.The best seo site
Garmin Golf Watch

jasa pembuatan web said...

Amazing,... I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Very useful information particularly the last part :) Thanks dude

pemutih gigi murah said...

Excellent submit but I used to be attempting to know in case you could create a little additional on this topic?

kue kering murah said...

This page is where I got the most useful information for my information gathering. Thanks for posting maybe we can see more on this.

suplemen peninggi badan said...

You're so cool! I don't think I've read anything like this before. So good to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject. Thanks

Anonymous said...

I needed to thank you for this excellent information!! I have bookmarked your blog to check out the new stuff you post. Thanks dude black cigarettes original

diet sehat said...

After reading the article, I feel that I need more information on the topic. Excellent post!

baju wanita said...

The post is written in very a good manner and it entails many useful information for me. I am happy to find your distinguished way of writing the post. Thanks dude

Anonymous said...

Nice to be visiting your blog again, it has been months for me. Well this article that i've been waited for so long visit here

business telephone lines said...

It’s a great site to see. That will help for improvisation of me. Will definitely marked as Bookmark.
http://www.xinix.co.uk/cheap-business-calls-deals-installation-phone-line-packages/

mengobati batu ginjal said...

These information helps me consider some useful things, keep up the good work.

sarang semut papua said...

Thanks for sharing .Keep posting articles like this. A good example of content presentation. A piece of information from you every now and then is really great.

handry said...

This is a great post. I like this topic.This site has lots of advantage.I found many interesting things from this site. It helps me in many ways.Thanks for posting this again. - springbed murah

po said...

Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It's always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! I'm sure you had fun writing this article. - florist semarang

malvern said...

Thank you very much for posting and sharing this great article. It is so interesting. I want to know some other information about this site. So please give me this news quickly. I always will be aware of you - Manhole

marcel said...

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing this great article! That is very interesting Smile I love reading and I am always searching for informative information like this! - florist semarang

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in truth used to be a enjoyment account it.
Look complicated to more delivered agreeable from you!
By the way, how can we keep up a correspondence?

Feel free to visit my page ... waist to height ratio ranges

Anonymous said...

I have been checking out a few of your articles and it's pretty good stuff. I will definitely bookmark your website. - TDS Meter

Anonymous said...

Wonderful being going to your blog once again, I am find information on this topic as I am working on a business project. Thank you posting relative information and its now becoming easier to complete this project. - toko tas branded online

Anonymous said...

This is my first time i visit here. That is very interesting Smile I love reading and I am always searching for informative information like this. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing this great article - Manfaat Kulit Manggis

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the great article I did enjoyed reading it, I will be sure to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back from again. I want to encourage that you continue your great job, have a good day - fitflop

Anonymous said...

I'm not going to lie, This website has very good content. Thank you for the information, will be following your blog with a greatest interest. - baju korea murah

Anonymous said...

After examine a few of the blog posts on your web site now, and I really like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site record and can be checking again soon. Pls check out my website as well and let me know what you think. - kardus

m88 news said...

Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article.

unsgu said...

Berbagai informasi yang diposting pada web ini minimalist exterior color sangat bermanfaat, dan menambah wawasan bedroom interior design untuk para pembaca. Terimakasih yah udah mau share, dan ditunggu berita terbaru spec honda cbr 250 menarik lainnya. price mitsubishi pajero

Post a Comment