Tianchi Lake

[Verse 1]

Children by the water banks laughing long and loud

Changbai’s high fine western peaks just beneath the clouds

Currents in the water churning in their course

Body of a sea-lion, head just like a horse

[Verse 2]

Preacher in the soft brown sand begins to speak his piece

High winds in the treetops, low flying winter geese

No one taking pictures, everybody still

And then the water sought its course again, the way that waters will

[Verse 3]

No one at the lakeside now, moon up in the sky

Night birds in the dragon spruce moaning long and high

Backstroking on the surface, moonlight on its face

Floats the Tianchi Monster, staring into space

[Verse 4]

Out around the temple now, narcissus in bloom

Censers packed with sandalwood send smoke into the room

Children in the sand outside on their hands and knees

Sketching pictures all day long of stranger things than these