poetry

IN SORROW FOR THE LOST PRINCE

A crow with a white head came,

They say, from the city wall and

Warned those in the great places

By pecking on the tiled roofs;

And the court, seeing it as a sign,

Fled, beaking their golden whips,

Killing nine of their best horses

In their mad flight; so was the

Imperial family separated;

Now, out on a country road, a youth

Of that family halts me; his

Valuables are hidden in his rags,

He sobs bitterly, refusing to give

His name; asking to be taken as a

Slave, because for over three months

Has he been hiding out in the

Waste lands, so that now his skin

Is badly torn and broken; yet still

The prominent nose of the imperial

House marks him as being different

From local lads;

Swiftly did I say to him,

“Now that

Wild beasts in the shape of men

Have occupied Changan,

Care for your own safety,

I cannot talk with you for long

In so public a place, but you must know

There has come defeat; the east wind stank

With blood,

Rebel camel trains from

The west

Have come to the capital,

Our once fine troops were

Beaten, why has their bravery

Changed to cowardice;

The emperor has abdicated

In favour of the prince who has

Brought in allies from Turkestan, and

These have tattooed their faces to say

They will restore the country;

Be ever vigilant of spies;

The spirits of your ancestors

Are with you, while there

Is life there is hope.”

(Copy of poetry from feng chih)