Contributions from ALL SOULS POETRY - Authors selected by SUE ZHU, New Zealand

#DYLANDAY

Saturday Moons

by Zihong Chen

Two Saturday moons with me, one above rain cloud,

the other deep in my mind. In our worldly life,

to say the least, each defining moment is a dojo.

As if ten days ago the cherry plums in full bloom,

and purple sage waving on the CBD curb year befor last,

The listener is distant and elusive.

The moon is stuck on top of the rain cloud.

On this spring night, you are the first author

or reader of a mystery I have conceived and written--

Spiritual mists cover the earthly world, the moon full of colors,

fibers from lotus roots pull elephant，today, in new colors.

Mozart, with love's fidelity and weakness.

I speak of the moon, Basho woke up early in the morning with

a wish list: looks like we've got a day with rosy clouds.

bio: Zihong Chen, a poet and translator. He is the author of three collections of poems By the Riverside (2001), Mirrored Moments Haiku and Just A Means Of (2024). He has translated the works of several contemporary foreign poets, including Georg Trakl, Joseph Brodsky, Derek Walcott and Patti Smith..

On the Side of Moon

by   Albert Meng

On the moon slowly thinning, behind the totem pole

On the paternalistic moon

Who is the licentious master? He didn't say anything

To whom does the sound of hooves and wheels of four stallions belong

From Fusang to Western Sea, moon gate tightly shut

Tapping mellifluously on the amethyst gold crown

Gently touching her. Tapping her pale lips with a finger

Who's there? Who's cutting the shadow of Reevesia tree

Dipping his fingertip in white sap，he wrote—

Wu Gang blunted the Western River axe, but years dead, afresh, afresh

And who sleeps her long sleep on the steps of vast, cold palace

She did not dream of meeting a blind, living Emperor

Who forsook his throne, his kingdom was desolate, he always on the go

Eagerly inquiring, and chasing after the sharpened moon

Like an iron axe, and a lip line formed by it

On the neglected moon, is there still a master being in the saddle

Bio: Albert Meng was born in China on 30 October 1975. He is a poet and an author of thirty-one books and lives in China. 

The Moon’s Monologue

by Fangfei

Translated by Wang Fei

I don’t have to be the sun of someone else.

Instead, I can be a luminous pearl.

I don’t have to burn myself, but to shine on

Eternity, and enlighten everything under heaven.

Lovesickness is losing weight, cutting off

All the earthly entanglements;

While wishes are gathering flesh, fulfilling

All the worldly desires,

Keeping the boundless blue ocean surging.

A round plate, waxing and waning,

A full circle, turning and rotating,

I’m closer to you than all the stars are,

While I keep perfect distance from you,

Being hazy and remote.

I light up every secret in the world,

And also light up all of our regrets.  

Night of Sept. 17^th, 2023

Bio: Fangfei, or Liu Mingzhu, a Shanghai-based postmodern neo-romantic poetess, a woman married to poetry. 

《月满乾坤》 国画 BY HU JUNQUAN ( CHINA)

The Golden Sound of Moonlight

by  Hu Jinquan (China)

Past events in the west have caused the clouds to rise and

Stimulate the geometry of life:

While I’m chasing, missing, reuniting, and looking forward

The moonlight flows whether it’s 

Linear, curved, round, or shaped.

In the clothing bag, all sorts of feelings well up in my heart

Golden moonlight hits golden moonlight

Bio: Hu Jinquan is an artist of poetry, calligraphy and painting. He is honorary chairman of the US-China Culture and Arts Centre, honorary chairman of the Qi Baishi Art Research Association, etc.

The moon with milk velvet

    by pei Junlan 

    Tr. by Liu Qian 'er

The moonlight transformed from a cascading waterfall back into a tear in the universe

 for the injured white bellied kite flying with an arrow

I hope Tao Yuanming wakes up from the Peach Garden

My one year old orange cat, Its teeth are like the buds of the Moon

It wants to return sweetly to the flowers of February orchid to doze off

The fringed curtains were slim and quiet

"It's light blue like a good girl

It's tried for the brightest time of day"

I thought about all the colors once

Which color is the most suitable for making a moon shirt

Use it to heal emotional depression

Bio: pei Junlan , a Chinese poet . 

Month

by Wang Lishi

When I was a child

Let Mom use the string to tie the kite

Tie the moon to me

Mom said casually

Growing up

I will tie it myself

today

The string tying the kite is lost

month

Compared to my childhood

Still far away

Bio: Wang Lishi, a member of the Chinese Writers Association, has publicly published over 1500 poems and commented on over 150 of them. His poems have been selected for over 100 selected books and high school Chinese language exams, and he has won more than 30 awards. He has also commented on nearly 100 of his personal works.

《心画 》Chinese seal cutting by Ma Junhua ( China) 

Walking Towards the Drooping Galactic River

 by Li Chaoyun

Playing the half-moon lyre, I don't know how many watchers are there in the dark night. The ten-thousand-foot-long cold wind slips through my fingertips. I see the stars all fleeing towards the sea. It's always cold at night. Wrapping myself in a cloud, I sit down to talk with the fire in my palm.

You know that the lotus has another name, "Han Dan,"

But you don't know the alias of this wave, nor do you know

The alias of this night and this era. Ah, the future

Will only reveal its answers to the kind futures of the past.

Look, the shadow stands in silence, demonstrating its indistinguishability

And fullness, proving that silence indeed emits a roaring noise.

Whether raising one's head or bowing, it's always the direction of life and death.

I will walk towards the drooping galactic river, searching for an eagle

To heal all the ambiguities in the dust and smoke.

Bio: Li Chaoyun, pen name Li Wanzhi. Mainly engaged in modern poetry and essay creation. Published poetry collection "Fragments.".

The back of the moon

by  Zhu Meihua (China)

That day, you were like a wanderer away from home

Has been reciting a poem full of thoughts and nostalgia

Friends and relatives who have left us.

The days we laughed and cried together

With a touch of sadness in your back

An inexplicable sour, let me taste the deep and quiet of the night alone

Who has forgotten your smile?

Under a veil of silver I follow the light

That should be an unfinished ballad.

Some scattered fragments, and those

You can never get back the time that's gone

Until every leaf is illuminated

A lonely soul

With the kindness of my mother, warm the bitterness of parting and the suffering of missing

A baby is born and squawks

I do not know who picked the flowers, who buried the fallen petals.

I try to catch the shadows

A cockcrow, my hand only touched the back of the moon

BIO: Zhu Meihua (Hainan), member of China Folk Literature and Art Association and Hainan Writers' Association. His works have been published in newspapers and magazines, such as Yanhe, Coconut City, Special Zone Literature, Modern Youth, Hainan Daily, Zhanjiang Daily and so on. His poems have been selected into many collections, such as Chinese WeChat Poetry Yearbook 2022, Coastline, Chasing the Dream of the Horizon.

The Moon

by Li Ailian

The treetops are swaying, and the shadows are so huge

A window facing the night, and darkness turning away from the other side

But no enough light, passing through deeper darkness

The Mid-Autumn moon is a brand-new eye

Shadows fall down one by one

And slide into this bright light one by one

Bio: Li Ailian,is a member of the Chinese Writers Association,and the China Poetry Society,has published a poetry collection "sit Idle Poetry Collections"with other poets.

Illusion

by  Ran Hangyu

The moon's phase, a mirage like a woman's tender realm,

I become a solitary specter, chasing and in exile's swell.

I am the belonging of all, a sanctuary where secrets dwell,

A heart that cannot melt, tumbling in my stomach's well.

Burning is but an illusion, casting upon me a red spell,

Like a waterfall inverted, tearing through a long sigh's shell.

Bringing forth calls of yesteryear, vows and pains that compel,

As if a grave of memories, piling up into a dust's cell.

Wrapping up the moonlight, I lock away a piece of veil,

Above the veil lies the darkness, in the sky's deep, hidden dell.

 Bio: Ran Hangyu, a member of the Chinese Poetry Society, has works featured in publications such as "Silver Poetry Journal" and "Sun Pavilion Poetry Journal." His poetry was selected for the "China Poetry Rankings" annual list in 2018.

My moon is you

by Qian'er Baby

Tr. by Liu Qianer

My moon is very handsome

When I love him, I am happy

Sometimes, I also have a little pain, and shed tears.

A child comforted me and said

Because my moon has grown a beard

He pricked me when he kissed me

Tonight, I told my moon about that child's words

He tightly embraced me and led me

Sleeping happily on the rocking bed of the sea

In my dream, I heard my moon whispering softly in my ear

Baby, I'm sorry, I love you

Bio: Qianer baby, Original name is Liu qianer. Writer, poet, painter. Published poetry collection "Spring Under Eyelashes" poetry and painting collection "Someone Sitting in the Spring Breeze".

Searching for the Moon in the Mountains

by Guo Qing

I have walked a long way

Climbing a very high mountain to see you

Look at you on this high sky and thick soil

In the lonely and deep mountain villa

How does it happen every year on this day

Under the full moon in the mountains, I pray for blessings from all over the world

Sending it into the mountains, the clear glow

In the low chirping of grass and insects, scattered and orderly

No matter how high the mountain is, no matter how low the grass is

Divide the autumn colors equally, even warm sunshine

Even the moonlight of this Mid Autumn Festival

Ten thousand people, ten thousand thoughts

Running after the day, chasing after love

Trek through thousands of mountains and rivers

Arriving at a beloved mountain

Every blade of grass and every tree is a neighbor from a past life

Every ditch and slope is a must pass ferry in this life

When dusk lingers at the entrance of the kiln

An ice wheel that carries the beauty of mountains, south, sea, and north

Ranging over the mountain, crossing the clouds

With the posture of a mother in the world

Scattering the whereabouts of every wanderer

Bio: Guo Qing is a member of the Chinese Poetry Society, the Chinese Poetry Society, and the Shanxi Writers Association. More than 500 poems have been published in multiple newspapers and magazines, including People's Literature, Poetry Tide, Stars, Poetry Selection, Shanxi Literature, Fujian Literature, Special Zone Literature, People's Daily, Overseas Edition, and Poetry Hall. Selected from "Daily Poetry", "Three Hundred New Poems", "Chinese New Poetry Ranking", and "Chinese Poets' Birthday Ceremony"

Red Moon

by Swallow flying

A sufficiently enthusiastic person

Before, must have been soaked in enough indifference

Not cold enough to treat others

Just suffered enough cold

Because I'm afraid of the cold

Now, she is afraid of the cold

As long as there is a fraction of heat, it emits a fraction of light

Everyone who has seen her

Everyone speaks in unison

Saying she is a warm person

It's a bit like the sun

Bio:Swallow flying,Real name Hu Yanfang, female，Born in 1966,People from Hubei, China.Growing up with a passion for literature,Engaged in long-term text editing and editing work.Published news and literary works,Merge and select multiple collections.Publishing a poetry collection titled "Recent Situation of Women".

CONFESSION OF LOVE

By Sue Zhu ( NZ )

Tranlated by Wen Xinjiao ( Singapore)

The bright moon throws its secrets

Into the sea

One by one

Thus the seawater

Becomes restless

From then on

Bio: Sue Zhu, is a New Zealand Chinese poet and artist. She received dozens international poetry prizes, she was invited to attend several prestigious international poetry festivals and interviewed by the China Xinhua News Agency.

I Have Nothing to Give You

by Xu Jian gang

When the sun rises

I wanna give you a brilliant morning

But I can’t

When the typhoon comes

I wanna give you a wall to protect yourself

But I can’t

When the snow falls

I wanna give you a big tent

But I can’t

When the moon floats in the silver river

I wanna give you rocket carrying you back home

But I can’t

When all the world refuses you

What I can give you is only a hug

Which is from the bottom of my heart

When the world becomes dirty

When earth gets rusty

Except a few lines of pointless sonnets

I can give you nothing

2024.3.11

Xu Jiangang (January 1961-): male, pen name:,Three Gorges Old Captain, born in Baotou city, Inner Mongolia. Now he is working at School of Foreign Languages in Xiamen University, a professor of English and American literature. He has had four collections of poems published so far, whose poems have been translated into other languages. 

The moon

by Peter Wang

The moon, in mysterious veil

Converses with me

I talk about Li Bai, Tagore, and my dream as well

She listens to me, so quietly, so quietly

When tears along cheeks run

I know I am supposed to depart

Leaving the clear glow along the road

For those who would seek me

I am not far, dear, not far

But so many pass by

Without turning around the corner

To see my footprint, so deeply

So deeply, my dear, trample the moonlight

Wang Guoji, a senior middle school teacher, loves Chinese and foreign poetry, and his poems are scattered in Chinese and foreign poetry magazines. He is the translator of ASP International Poetry Journal.

Moon

by Yan Yonghong

When the mother carried the sick pig down the mountain with a basket

The moon also shook over the mountains

When it returned, it was above the top of the mountain

How many nights the Mother watched the moon

The moon waited for the Mother

The child waited for his mother to speak

The story of Wu Gang cutting down the laurel tree

The legend of Chang'e running to the moon

Looking forward to the Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes was a luxury

My mother is now old

Homesickness becomes the moon in her heart

When I was a child, I was in the bow of the boat, and my mother was in the stern

Growing up, my mother is in the bow and I in the stern

The moon is like a boat, like a pair of eyes

The night is still looking forward to the brightness

There is a drop of blood not far away

The ladder hangs upside down

The earth is like a lonely boat in the universe

Life does not dare to postpone

Time did not forget Mercedes

Real name: Yan Yonghong (1971-), male, from Yidu, Hubei Province, editor, graduated from Huazhong University of Science and Technology with a bachelor's degree in journalism, a famous contemporary poet, successively served as the deputy secretary-general of the Yang Studies Association, etc., published thousands of poems, published poetry collections "Telling the Heart", "Love Spring" and many other works. The poems were selected for the inscription gallery of the Hunan Chinese Tea Culture Poetry Federation, and the poems were published in New Zealand and other countries, represented as "Nature's Drumbeat".

Mid-Autumn Festival on the Moon

by Chen Xuqing

Anyway

The month is still beautiful

myths or legends

There is no October and September

There is no praise for the father month by month

In the annals

There is no time and moon to mourn, and you will die together

On the gazetteer

There was no shooting of the moon

Music

There is no red moon rising in the east

bio:Chen Xuqing, male, born in 1967, from Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province, China, works in an electric power company. Point of view Poetry: Poetry is not a pastime or obscenity, poetry is a scalpel.

Mid—Autumn Story

by Zhao Xiaofang

Thinking of that night, I feel wet all over.

When I try to recall

It seems that the memories are wet, too.

The voices dripped like water

And the shadows drifted in the fog.

The moonlight is like a vast ocean

The people walked in it

Soon became one part of the tide.

My mother was sitting in the country yard

As if waiting on the wave.

My father returned from afar

He had been drenched in the moonlight.

He poured the fish out of the bamboo basket

The fish scales sparkled

Like a pile of scattered silver

The eyes of my young and poor parents'

Were moist.

An introduction to the poet：

Zhao Xiaofang (February 1976—)：female，pen name，He Xiu，born in Tangshan，He Bei. Now she is working in Tangshan University as an associated professor.

Mid-Autumn Moonlight

by Fang Liu

September 28, 2023

Days of drizzling autumn rain

Accompanied by damp and chilly air

Give me an illusion

As if I was back to my hometown thousands of miles away

Tonight, the sky has cleared of raindrops

But still tightly wrapped in thick clouds

Suddenly, a soft and bright moonlight

Shining on me through the cracks of the clouds

Oh, a considerate moon

I know, you must have written a letter to the sun

Asked the dark clouds not to block your radiance

Oh, an affectionate full moon

I also know, you wouldn't bear to hide away on the Mooncake Festival

Make those who gaze upon you shed tears of melancholy

2023.09.28

 Fang Liu, Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from Tsinghua University.  Her works have been published in Tsinghua Centennial Poetry Collection, World Pandemic Poetry, Tsinghua People, China Flower & Penjing, Future Educationalists Magazine, Tsinghua Alumni Newsletter, Shuimu Poetry Society, Poetry and Art of Tsinghua Alumni，Yearning for the Holy Kingdom，etc.