Longing for home

1. It’s a long way home, and I can’t sleep. I listen to insects humming in the mulberry trees. I lift my curtain and stare at the moon, which is far away, cold, and bright, like a flower that I can’t touch. My small lamp doesn’t keep me warm. I’d rather be in bed with you, but I don’t know how it could be. Even in my dreams, I can’t get over the pass. 2. The daylight doesn’t last; fog hides everything. A monk had been playing his zither but now he’s hung it on his wall. In my room, it’s only me, staring at myself in the mirror. I was thinking about singing, but you’re not here, and I’d sing only for you. 3. I’ve put the vase of flowers outside but it’s fragrance still fills my room. Throughout the long winter, all I can do is to smell them.