酷我-北美枫

[星子]

The Women of China



Once a crowd of beautiful ladies descended

to the waterfront in Xian and Du Pu saw them.

It was the third day of the third month, the time

of the Lustration Festival. In those days

the ancient capital of China was still called Chang-an,

the city of Perpetual Peace, and Du Pu was a famous poet

during the reign of the Tang Dynasty.



However, he disliked the wasteful luxury of the women

he saw at the waterfront and the depravity

in which they were immersed.

These beauties, he said, were as flamboyant and arrogant

as gentle and elegant. The skin on their marvellous bodies

was delicate and jade pendants framed their temples.

They wore exorbitant gowns made of silk,

embroidered with gold peacocks and silver unicorns.



But the women that I saw in China thirteen centuries later

were very different. I saw them working hard on the fields

and in factories. Simply dressed, they walked

or rode their bicycles, and I found their bodies attractive

and comely even when they wore uniforms.



Yet 5,000 years of civilization also taught these women

to apparel themselves stylishly

with sophisticated refinement. They also like to dress up

for a charming look in traditional garments,

pacing gracefully in colourful silk chipaos.



The women that I met in China

were easy to sing and dance and laugh. And they liked

to clap their hands with joy. I saw warmth in their eyes

and friendliness in their smile.

Once on a sunny day I admired the bronze statue

of the street sweeping girl on a Beijing boulevard.

[[ANNA]]

The Women of China



Once a crowd of beautiful ladies descended

to the waterfront in Xian and Du Pu saw them.

It was the third day of the third month, the time

of the Lustration Festival. In those days

the ancient capital of China was still called Chang-an,

the city of Perpetual Peace, and Du Pu was a famous poet

during the reign of the Tang Dynasty.



However, he disliked the wasteful luxury of the women

he saw at the waterfront and the depravity

in which they were immersed.

These beauties, he said, were as flamboyant and arrogant

as gentle and elegant. The skin on their marvellous bodies

was delicate and jade pendants framed their temples.

They wore exorbitant gowns made of silk,

embroidered with gold peacocks and silver unicorns.



But the women that I saw in China thirteen centuries later

were very different. I saw them working hard on the fields

and in factories. Simply dressed, they walked

or rode their bicycles, and I found their bodies attractive

and comely even when they wore uniforms.



Yet 5,000 years of civilization also taught these women

to apparel themselves stylishly

with sophisticated refinement. They also like to dress up

for a charming look in traditional garments,

pacing gracefully in colourful silk chipaos.



The women that I met in China

were easy to sing and dance and laugh. And they liked

to clap their hands with joy. I saw warmth in their eyes

and friendliness in their smile.

Once on a sunny day I admired the bronze statue

of the street sweeping girl on a Beijing boulevard.

[星子]

http://www.federationofpoets.com/featurepaulhartal.htm

Paul is also feature poet
_________________

[[ANNA]]

http://www.federationofpoets.com/featurepaulhartal.htm

Paul is also feature poet
_________________