Looking from Our Door

This song first entered my mind while I was comparing translations of the poetry of the remarkable Song dynasty poet Li Qingzhao. The attraction I have to Li Qingzhao's work is twofold - firstly: the sheer power of her expression, which speaks to me through each and every translation (some translations being so different that I often fail to recognize them as being the same poem) - secondly: her “Ci” poetry, is, for all practical purposes, songwriting. “Ci” poetry began as lyrics to be sung to tunes both popular and original, not unlike the “12 bar blues” or “rock and roll” songs of the modern world. The imagery used in this song largely comes from her Ci poem “Banana Trees”, but should in no way be thought of as a translation - I do not pretend to have that kind of scholarship or talent. It is, at best, a re-working of theme and image for a contemporary context. I do not know the original source of the cover art I have used here, but I found it at http://www.chinesetimeschool.com/en-us/articles/li-qingzhao/. There are no extent images of Li Qinqzhao from her own time. Lyrics: looking from our door, I see the poplars that we planted their green shadows fill the lawn their green shadows fill the lawn, leaves a-flutter in the breeze, in the quiet of the moment, they seem to share my thoughts they seem to share my thoughts, I recall a last farewell at the gateway of our home at the gateway of our home I listen to the sound, in the quiet of the moment, to the rustling of leaves the rustling of leaves, a sound you’ll never hear again it breaks my heart it breaks my heart we can no longer share our thoughts, in the quiet of the moment, looking from our door