Liu Chin
Liu Chin with your lazy eye, thumb on a cell phone, standing in the shadow of a man.
Where did you get the green arboretum tee shirt tucked in with a long black belt cinching your slender waist? Where did you get the gold band on your finger? Your skin
is like buffed candle wax compared to mine. Arrival, Departure, you keep us on track, gathering passports, collecting airport tax, riding baggage carts around the bend.
Liu Chin with the lazy eye, thumb on a cell phone, standing in the shadow of a man.
You, smart but young with mischief in your eyes, to us you are a banker, a teacher,
a concierge, a keeper of harmony who caters to our every wish. In the distance
you skip stones over the clear river water, reflections of weeping trees juggle for postion.
Coming from the mountains thick with vegetation,
You, Chin with the lazy eye, thumb on a cell phone, standing in the shadow of a man.
Did you sing while she held you at the age of three? Were you dancing to the drums
and suona horn, the melody of flutes egging you on? Who taught you to read
the inscriptions on bones and shells? Did you go to school? Back home, sitting
in front of my window looking out onto the Bay, my most important image of China
is you. In a small room while our group ate dinner you did an impression of a baby bird accidentally falling into the river. I see those wings I see the bird, big, but young, each layered feather in various hues of gray and black, the bend in his wings, flopping.
I see the bird accidentally fall into the river near your birthplace in the mountains
of Guizhou.
Carla, this is so beautiful. Those moments that are etched in your mind like poetry, to become a poem…
Wonderful.
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Your fish is now etched in my mind 🙂
Thank you Karen. I do like the pairing of an old drawing I made with the poem I wrote a few years ago. It makes the experience fresh and new again.
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This is beautiful and it fits so well with the drawing. Really so good.
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I’m really pleased you like the poem. I hand held the camera because I couldn’t find the attachment that goes from my camera to the tripod.The shot could be sharper. The feather was drawn years ago, way before my trip to China.
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The other comments have already said it, this is just beautiful, both the delicate drawing and the very touching and personal words. I can feel your spirit in both of them – and feel connected through them.
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Reblogged this on Carla's Blog.
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A memory so delicate and visual.
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Gorgeous poem…I love that bringing it together with the older drawing allowed you to have a fresh take on both. And also that you thought to focus on Liu Chin at all – that is a good thing.
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Thank you :)Yes I remember that feather took a long time to draw, but I get into a rhythm and just draw,
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Just as sensitive, thoughtful and artfully done as your paintings. Exquisite!
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Awww thank you Binny
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This reads absolutely beautifully, like droplets of water falling off stone..
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