Midnight Moon

The midnight moon climbs down
to pause on the bamboo span

Smearing itself with the blue from the sky
becomes rain the night long

Drenched in the rain
the moon’s hair grows longer
like the notes of Chaurasia’s flute

The spring carries the smell of the hair
to the river

It makes the hyacinth bloom
furtively

In the sun after the rain
the warbler drinks
the blue water of the river

gazing the while at the river

MIDNIGHT MOON