Chinlee, my sweet darling

Chinlee, my sweet darling,
Another spring has come.
Cherry blossoms are everywhere.
Swallows clamour in the air.
Ducks dive in ponds with their ducklings
And the doves coo-coo with their mates.
Here I am walking by the Yangtze river
Under the full moon. I’m now to the second
Bottle of red cherry wine I bought from Yu Ding,
The Zen master, a mile up the river.
I’m missing you my darling and Kwa Ming
My little son born a year ago in spring.
I’m lonely. There’s no company.
I ask the moon to be my friend.
But she shies away.

Note: On reading Chinese poetry translated
by Kenneth Rexborth and others.