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Friendsfor my women friendsMy friends are gathered here Like a cluster of fresh fruit Bright as red monordica Soothing as custard apples Sharp and keen as star-fruit They give like gold persimmons The durian behind its thorn Exudes an unearthly scent Outside green, inside red-- Oh sweet watermelon My friends love serenely Like squash on low vines When we talk over snail soup And laugh, our voices rise None of us has much time But we give to one another When one of us goes away The others stand by her boat I love you deeply, friends Though life is passing by I hope our sharing of sweetness And sorrow never ends I have carried friendship with me On all my many journeys An undepleted treasure Like the vibrant shimmering sky And if in dark moments My life seems dull and bleak I am warmed by the hearts of friends Like pineapple, fresh and sweet (translated by Martha Collins and Thuy Dinh) |
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Issue #21, July, 2001 :
Santa Fe Poetry Broadside.