The toil of time

(For Marcia)

Stretching beyond, my muscles strain (Photo: Anita Kunz)

My tongue tastes the toil of time
In memory the moon my heart reflects
Fragrances of the future flow
In the waves soon warmed by summer
Persistent breezes, frequent rain
Chilled my breast, soaked my gown.
Stretching beyond, my muscles strain
In the sea where my soul calm remains.

Wei Santang is a scholar born and educated in the Far West in the second half of the 20th century. Faye Sarras teaches English and records the activities of plants from the mountains to the garden to the kitchen. Faye and Santang are the authors of In Solar Terms. Wei Santang is also author of Fruit of the Vine and Work of Human Hands (forthcoming). Read other articles by Wei.