Recovering

Leaves fall
lie on one another

The rain beats
on the rain.

In beds of yellowing grass
blue stream hides

When I drop a subject,
it begins to rise

the way green tea
froths to liquid jade.

Balance emptiness
with form

the master
says

Sonomama,
just so

Try to even
the black space

between moon
and earth

desire
and duty

Does that include
stringless lute,

the crane without
a voyage

long bamboo vowels
of the lonely?

Copyright 2009 by Gail Ghai