WANG FAN-CHIH

(590–660)

Two Untitled Poems

THE city wall’s the noodle dumpling,

What’s inside’s just the meatball.

One each, and don’t complain

about the flavor.

[J.P.S.]

WHEN the rich pass proudly by

on big, smooth horses,

I feel foolish

riding my scrawny donkey.

I feel much better

when we overtake

a bundle of sticks

riding a bony man.

[S.H.]