On the river Li
floating down the Li on a bamboo raft
her hair in a chignon
a parasol in one hand to avert the sun from disturbing the delicate beauty of her face
clothed in a silken hanfu her lithe body relaxes as she turns to the view of cormorants diving from the shore as if into her eyes
they though await he to come to her
her betrothed
this their journey to their destiny in Yangshuo
his smile distracts her
his presence she felt before it aroused
the flow from image to reality
now her heart beats in that moment only venus knows
a lot older than her it was his wisdom and maturity she sought
and his love
that magic potion they share in abundance and give freely to each other
and for him her innocence and intelligence, her youthful capacity for life, the very shape of her
he sits alongside her taking her hand in his
and as if their mouths had never left each other he places his upon hers
this reverie may it ever last
past the karst mountains they sail
what adventures await
Words written September 2021 for Yue. Music - Liu Boxin Whenever,
