Dancing

By Yang Kuei-Fei

(THE “WHITE POPLAR” IMPERIAL CONCUBINE OF THE EMPEROR MING HUANG)

Wide sleeves sway.
Scents,
Sweet scents
Incessantly coming.

It is red lilies,
Lotus lilies,
Floating up,
And up,
Out of Autumn mist.

Thin clouds
Puffed,
Fluttered,
Blown on a rippling wind
Through a mountain pass.

Young willow shoots
Touching,
Brushing,
The water
Of the garden pool.