Lady Gongsun

Gone is the beautiful dancer, Lady Gongsun, once fluid and unrestrained. Her sword dance startled like lightning, calmed all anger, and moved the four directions— to end like a sunset over a quiet sea. The royal family is gone, scattered like smoke and dust, and gone is the Lady Gongsu along with eight-thousand ladies from the emperor’s court, except for a single disciple, Li Shier Niang of Linying, who danced for us with the sword, and made me feel alone and sorry, walking the hills on callused feet.