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It's Our Sweet 16!- Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More

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It's Our Sweet 16!- Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More: Poets.org has been online since April 1996, the same month the Academy of American Poets initiated National Poetry Month.

That makes April 2012 our Sweet 16!
To celebrate, we're looking back at how the site has transformed over the years, and looking forward to exciting changes ahead. Celebrate with us by exploring the site's history. If you're a regular visitor of Poets.org, please consider making a gift today. Your support ensures that readers like yourself can celebrate for years to come.

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The Other Side of the River
by Xi Chuan
translated by Lucas Klein


On the other side of the river
there is a flame
a flame
burning May

burning August

when the pagoda tree blooms, the professor with lentigo bows to her
when orange blossoms fall, an heir of graceful demeanor waves to her
and smiles

yet on the other side of the river she remains, still burning
like the underwater glistening of red coral
like a red straw hat blown away in the breeze

when I saw her yesterday she was totally still, looking to the sky
and today she lowers her head to watch the river
if it were overcast and raining, what would she do there on that side
of the river?
—her flame would not go out

a poet looks to her
a farmer looks to her
a Dialectical Materialist looks to her
she is on the other side of the river, burning
burning May
burning August

..
.ero
.
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