you are an ancient chinese poet in exile

It rained last night. Lying in your bed in a restless, drunken haze, you listened to raindrops sliding off the eaves, then dreamed uncomfortably of faces veiled behind fans and the clatter of beads in an open hall. The floorboards outside are still damp. A thicket of [[bamboo]] shoots murmur in the wind, delicate green leaves glistening in the early rays of dawn. In the distance, the [[mountains]] are impassive as ever, their mysterious silence further obscured by white fog.

You sip tea as you watch the gently curving stems, wondering what shape a snapped stem will take as it grows back. You sit there until the sun rises to the sky's peak, illuminating all corners of the earth. You decide to take a stroll to clear your mind, towards the [[river -> river 1]]. In the distance, you think you hear a melancholy tune from a faraway [[zither -> zither 1]].

Idly, you grind ink and prepare a scroll to try and capture the beauty of the mountains, another feeble attempt to occupy yourself. Rendered on paper, the majestic sight is flat, uninspiring. You decide to take a stroll to clear your mind, towards the [[river -> river 2]]. In the distance, you think you hear a melancholy tune from a faraway [[zither -> zither 2]].

The river gurgles in the sunlight. It feels like it's mocking you, sweeping away all things in its path. Carried away by the current, just as you were by forces beyond your control. Allies useless in the face of a roaring tide. The solitary cries of a [[wild goose -> goose 1]] echo your mood. Out here, so far away from court, there is no one to hear your thoughts but the lonely birds. You recall the smirking faces of the [[officials -> officials 1]] responsible for your exile, and bow your head at the thought of the emperor mistaking the snake in his hand for a flower.

The music is imagined, but you close your eyes to savour it, remembering fond nights of drink and dance, of touching the soft inner flesh of a person's arm. The solitary cries of a [[wild goose -> goose 2]] echo your mood. Out here, so far away from court, there is no one to hear your thoughts but the lonely birds. You recall the smirking faces of the [[officials -> officials 2]] responsible for your exile, and bow your head at the thought of the emperor mistaking the snake in his hand for a flower.

The river gurgles in the sunlight. It feels like it's mocking you, sweeping away all things in its path. Carried away by the current, just as you were by forces beyond your control. Allies useless in the face of a roaring tide. The solitary cries of a [[wild goose -> goose 3]] echo your mood. Out here, so far away from court, there is no one to hear your thoughts but the lonely birds. You recall the smirking faces of the [[officials -> officials 3]] responsible for your exile, and bow your head at the thought of the emperor mistaking the snake in his hand for a flower.

The music is imagined, but you close your eyes to savour it, remembering fond nights of drink and dance, of touching the soft inner flesh of a person's arm. The solitary cries of a [[wild goose -> goose 4]] echo your mood. Out here, so far away from court, there is no one to hear your thoughts but the lonely birds. You recall the smirking faces of the [[officials -> officials 4]] responsible for your exile, and bow your head at the thought of the emperor mistaking the snake in his hand for a flower.

You call for candles as you sit at your evening meal, trying to keep the creeping darkness and feelings of regret at bay. Hands shaking, you pour cup after cup of [[wine -> wine 1]], drinking to forget. A crescent [[moon -> moon 1]] hangs in the sky tonight, an eyelid turned downwards to hide its brimming tears.

You spend the rest of the day reading and drinking, scoffing at the words of your enemies and savouring the words of friends. Hands shaking, you pour cup after cup of [[wine -> wine 2]], drinking to forget. A crescent [[moon -> moon 2]] hangs in the sky tonight, an eyelid turned downwards to hide its brimming tears.

You call for candles as you sit at your evening meal, trying to keep the creeping darkness and feelings of regret at bay. Hands shaking, you pour cup after cup of [[wine -> wine 3]], drinking to forget. A crescent [[moon -> moon 3]] hangs in the sky tonight, an eyelid turned downwards to hide its brimming tears.

You spend the rest of the day reading and drinking, scoffing at the words of your enemies and savouring the words of friends. Hands shaking, you pour cup after cup of [[wine -> wine 4]], drinking to forget. A crescent [[moon -> moon 4]] hangs in the sky tonight, an eyelid turned downwards to hide its brimming tears.

You call for candles as you sit at your evening meal, trying to keep the creeping darkness and feelings of regret at bay. Hands shaking, you pour cup after cup of [[wine -> wine 5]], drinking to forget. A crescent [[moon -> moon 5]] hangs in the sky tonight, an eyelid turned downwards to hide its brimming tears.

You spend the rest of the day reading and drinking, scoffing at the words of your enemies and savouring the words of friends. Hands shaking, you pour cup after cup of [[wine -> wine 6]], drinking to forget. A crescent [[moon -> moon 6]] hangs in the sky tonight, an eyelid turned downwards to hide its brimming tears.

You call for candles as you sit at your evening meal, trying to keep the creeping darkness and feelings of regret at bay. Hands shaking, you pour cup after cup of [[wine -> wine 7]], drinking to forget. A crescent [[moon -> moon 7]] hangs in the sky tonight, an eyelid turned downwards to hide its brimming tears.

You spend the rest of the day reading and drinking, scoffing at the words of your enemies and savouring the words of friends. Hands shaking, you pour cup after cup of [[wine -> wine 8]], drinking to forget. A crescent [[moon -> moon 8]] hangs in the sky tonight, an eyelid turned downwards to hide its brimming tears.

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //I wake from restless slumber to see the morning dew on bamboo shoots,// (click: ?page)[== //Autumn shadows reflected in the river, rushing water sending friends far away,// (click: ?page)[== //While the lonely goose’s cries can be heard across the lake.// (click: ?page)[== //Will spring return? I lament to the moon. There is no answer.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //I wake from restless slumber to see the morning dew on bamboo shoots,// (click: ?page)[== //Autumn shadows reflected in the river, rushing water sending friends far away,// (click: ?page)[== //Stained by the black ink of unrighteous men in the palace’s shadows. // (click: ?page)[== //I raise a cup of wine to ghosts, the rain diluting my sorrow.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //I wake from restless slumber to see the morning dew on bamboo shoots,// (click: ?page)[== //Autumn shadows reflected in the river, rushing water sending friends far away,// (click: ?page)[== //Stained by the black ink of unrighteous men in the palace’s shadows. // (click: ?page)[== //Will spring return? I lament to the moon. There is no answer.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //I wake from restless slumber to see the morning dew on bamboo shoots,// (click: ?page)[== //Music from a distant zither, plucking at the memories of old friends,// (click: ?page)[== //While the lonely goose’s cries can be heard across the lake.// (click: ?page)[== //I raise a cup of wine to ghosts, the rain diluting my sorrow.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //I wake from restless slumber to see the morning dew on bamboo shoots,// (click: ?page)[== //Music from a distant zither, plucking at the memories of old friends,// (click: ?page)[== //While the lonely goose’s cries can be heard across the lake.// (click: ?page)[== //Will spring return? I lament to the moon. There is no answer.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //Mist covers mountains in the early dawn, like the clouds resting heavily in my heart,// (click: ?page)[== //Autumn shadows reflected in the river, rushing water sending friends far away,// (click: ?page)[== //While the lonely goose’s cries can be heard across the lake.// (click: ?page)[== //I raise a cup of wine to ghosts, the rain diluting my sorrow.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //Mist covers mountains in the early dawn, like the clouds resting heavily in my heart,// (click: ?page)[== //Autumn shadows reflected in the river, rushing water sending friends far away,// (click: ?page)[== //While the lonely goose’s cries can be heard across the lake.// (click: ?page)[== //Will spring return? I lament to the moon. There is no answer.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //Mist covers mountains in the early dawn, like the clouds resting heavily in my heart,// (click: ?page)[== //Music from a distant zither, plucking at the memories of old friends,// (click: ?page)[== //While the lonely goose’s cries can be heard across the lake.// (click: ?page)[== //I raise a cup of wine to ghosts, the rain diluting my sorrow.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //Mist covers mountains in the early dawn, like the clouds resting heavily in my heart,// (click: ?page)[== //Music from a distant zither, plucking at the memories of old friends,// (click: ?page)[== //While the lonely goose’s cries can be heard across the lake.// (click: ?page)[== //Will spring return? I lament to the moon. There is no answer.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //I wake from restless slumber to see the morning dew on bamboo shoots,// (click: ?page)[== //Music from a distant zither, plucking at the memories of old friends,// (click: ?page)[== //Stained by the black ink of unrighteous men in the palace’s shadows.// (click: ?page)[== //I raise a cup of wine to ghosts, the rain diluting my sorrow.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //I wake from restless slumber to see the morning dew on bamboo shoots,// (click: ?page)[== //Music from a distant zither, plucking at the memories of old friends,// (click: ?page)[== //Stained by the black ink of unrighteous men in the palace’s shadows.// (click: ?page)[== //Will spring return? I lament to the moon. There is no answer.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //Mist covers mountains in the early dawn, like the clouds resting heavily in my heart,// (click: ?page)[== //Autumn shadows reflected in the river, rushing water sending friends far away,// (click: ?page)[== //Stained by the black ink of unrighteous men in the palace’s shadows.// (click: ?page)[== //I raise a cup of wine to ghosts, the rain diluting my sorrow.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //Mist covers mountains in the early dawn, like the clouds resting heavily in my heart,// (click: ?page)[== //Autumn shadows reflected in the river, rushing water sending friends far away,// (click: ?page)[== //Stained by the black ink of unrighteous men in the palace’s shadows.// (click: ?page)[== //Will spring return? I lament to the moon. There is no answer.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //Mist covers mountains in the early dawn, like the clouds resting heavily in my heart,// (click: ?page)[== //Music from a distant zither, plucking at the memories of old friends,// (click: ?page)[== //Stained by the black ink of unrighteous men in the palace’s shadows.// (click: ?page)[== //I raise a cup of wine to ghosts, the rain diluting my sorrow.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //Mist covers mountains in the early dawn, like the clouds resting heavily in my heart,// (click: ?page)[== //Music from a distant zither, plucking at the memories of old friends,// (click: ?page)[== //Stained by the black ink of unrighteous men in the palace’s shadows.// (click: ?page)[== //Will spring return? I lament to the moon. There is no answer.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

Taking up your brush and ink, you scribble down a poem. (click: ?page)[== //I wake from restless slumber to see the morning dew on bamboo shoots,// (click: ?page)[== //Autumn shadows reflected in the river, rushing water sending friends far away,// (click: ?page)[== //While the lonely goose’s cries can be heard across the lake.// (click: ?page)[== //I raise a cup of wine to ghosts, the rain diluting my sorrow.// (click: ?page)[== [[*]]

[[End ->Beginning]]