Tuner: for Qi Hong and Other Poems

By Yuan Changming

Tuner: for Qi Hong

While still in Mayuhe on the other 
Side of this world, you somehow gave me
An air-tuner, supposedly to help me 
Learn erhu, the violin with only two strings 
As a re-educated youth during the Cultural 
Revolution, which you somehow asked me 
To return to you before I took my long journey
Towards the West 
                             (Like the monkey king?)

Now almost half a century 
Later, I forget how to play the instrument
But I can still sing my youthful song of
Love in perfect tune with your chuckles
Like a kite whose string remains in 
Your hand however far or high 
                                  I have been flying

Reach out in Yearning: for Qi Hong

From the heart of night I look high up & 
Spot two particular stars twinkling at me
	As lovingly as your eyes beyond the horizon

On a beach rock, I howl aloud
Towards the whole pacific, & hear an echo
	From your call like a lost whale

Amid summer raindrops, I shoot my thought of you
Down through the earth, & feel a deep tremor
	Vibrating on the other side of this world

All Day Long: for Li Lan

More adaptable than a summer stream   
No less wild than a wild west wind 

              My missing for you can flow & blow
              Without leaving a single trace behind  

Like the water or the whirl, like all that
               Has no shape has no shadow

Unrequited Love

You are the tall mountain across the valley
That ever remains as silent as the sky
Except the echo of my own calls & songs

Man’s Last Position 

Against all the hardships of life is held
In the very depth of his heart, where
Hides a vivid portrayal of some woman

Yuan Changming hails with Allen Yuan from poetrypacific.blogspot.ca. Credits include Pushcart nominations besides appearances in Best of the Best Canadian Poetry (2008-17) & BestNewPoemsOnline, among others. Recently, Yuan published his eleventh chapbook Limerence, and served on the jury for Canada’s 44th National Magazine Awards (poetry category).