More English Poems (2014)

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LOVE IS SO SIMPLE

Looking outside at the rain
I feel so lonely again —
I don’t believe love is hard
Love is so simple, in fact.

Just like a raindrop it quells
all of my horrible hells
Just like a sparrow it hops
under the falling raindrops.

Love is so easy because
it’s not as complex as those
relative “notions” and “if”s
which make us cowardly stiff:

Love loves to treasure and give;
love is a pain that forgives.
Love never doubts nor insists,
it never conquers, but lists.

Looking outside at the rain
I feel so peaceful again:
Love is so simple and white,
Like an affectionate child!

With silent steps you came into my life
when gloom was burning it more cruelly
than that red Foshan sun, when first we met,
with silent smile my joy you gave me back
when I was almost finished by despair
by silent shouting in the desert air…
In China people call this – destined luck;
We’ll never know! But when I think of you
so far away, my tears trickle down
and I thank Heaven that you are my wife!
God bless you, silent Li, with all His heart,
as in my heart your dear love I treasure –
I err and rise, but – ever! – you’re my life,
and like a shining star on moonless sky
from reefs of death the sailor’s life you save!

**

When day is gone and quiet evening steals
into the room, aflame with sunset glory –
I am a tear of dew on your rosebush leaf,
before you sleep, come out to hear my story.

No pain can touch so deep as pain of love!
A million miles away a heart stood still.
With helpless hands he strove to touch his loved…
Alas! A tear was all he touched for real!

Bereaved of touch, he gently asked the hill
to breathe a dewdrop on a rosebush leaf –
to glow upon her dusky window sill;
he asked the wind to whisper in her ear:

That’s all he sent – that’s all he had! – a tear…
But all his life is spent with it, I fear!

LEARN TO LOVE:

Love is the sun in the sky:
learn how to love –
love the black clouds
love the dark storm
love the calm afterwards
love the stones hitting your feet
love the mosquitoes that bite you
love the friends that betray you
love the enemies who might love you one day
love the thunders that destroy your dreams
love the hot burning summer
love the wind that kicks your face
love every God-given day!
It’s time to stop
wasting our time
it’s time to learn
loving even the worst…