AT HSÜAN-CHOU, I CLIMB HSIEH T'IAO’S NORTH TOWER IN AUTUMN

This river town could be in a painting:
mountains at dusk, clear-sky views empty.

Two rivers inscribing a lit inlay of mirror,
a pair of fallen rainbows for bridges,

kitchen-smoke veins cold orange groves,
and autumn stains ancient wu-tung trees.

Who’ll remember someone facing wind
on North Tower, thinking of Hsieh T’iao?