South Hall

1. The windows of the southern hall face west, showing the Yangtze River and western mountains. I lie here and watch a thousands sails set anchor along the shoal. 2. I’m sick, but I can still see well and my hair’s not white. I pretend to write in the failing light. The alchemy of words warms up the hall. 3. If I can’t sleep on a rainy night, I listen to the rain on the new tiles and I believe I can smell the small lotus flowers in Dongwu. 4. Our lives here are dripping in honey. Even my children grow acres of vegetables. Nantang is a good place to visit. It’s a good place to invite your friends. 5. We sweep the floor and burn incense. The rattan mat is woven like water. The silk curtain hangs like smoke. When a guest wakes up in this room, he can look out the west window and collect the waves from his dreams.