1.

Desperate for you

I have been lolling here for the whole season

Till the spring thunder was silenced on the horizon,

And the earth became alert to hear your deep breathing.

Barefoot, I step on the soft-humid earth under the moon.

During your sleeping in the summer night,

I watch the scintillating of every single star.

 

***

2.

Crow’s feet

Following the rhythm of old days

Soft swimming grace

Has never changed

It only floats

Over and over,

Anew, paced, slowly,

And there are some wrinkles

Which no longer ripple

In the river of life.

 

3.

Ivy

Breathing the tenderness of the air

The ivy extends its neck bashfully.

Does it expect a romance in the verdure

Or is it afraid of getting lost in the wind?

 

5.

Cicada

In accord with the season’s rhythm

As expected, you return in summer time,

To chain our childhood to your wing threads

And to laminate our bygones into your see-thru wings.

 

6.

Silkworms

Even with a real purified soul

You can not be free from suffering.

You are distined to grovel in a humble way

And constantly nodding your head.

When breath brings endless missing of the season,

You memorize the soft feeling of every tender leaf

                                                                          After a spring rain and thunder.


Karen Kung, a native of Sichuan, China, was born in Taiwan, graduated from Fu Jen Catholic University and after her graduation, she worked as a teaching assistant of English Department in Fu Jen and studied in Chinese Literature Graduate School of China Culture and Art University.áá In 1992 she suffered from a serious illness and suddenly yearned for writing.á Since then she has been working as a leading consultant of Cancer Patients’ Group, chief editor for a medical magazine, the director of Little White Cabin - a children’s poetry magazine. Since 2000, she has become the member of World Academy of Arts and Culture.á At this moment, she is the president of one of the most important poetry associations in Taiwan – Chien Kun Poetry Quarterly and besides, she also works as tutor of poetry as well.

The critics point out that besides the elements or ideas of the feminist movement literature, one can find very profound thoughts or insights in her writings about the characteristics of the traditional Chinese woman’s role in society.á

What is however mostly appreciated in her poetry, is the immense aesthetic beauty, the abundant usage of metaphors, similes, comparisons, parallels, allusions and other stylistic figures.á She can say in a very lapidary way – less is more – what she thinks, how she feels about life in general, but love, suffering and death, in particular. Many of the literati and art experts praise her for her ability of suspense through which she perfectly succeeds in expressing herself in such a subdued way that it surprises even them.

Publications: Prose collection “Affection, lingering affection”, “An abiding love”.á Poetry “Standing at the window sill”, “Affiance”.á Poetry collection “Selected poems of Karen Kung”(Chinese-English version), “Dreams & Beams” in Chinese, English and French, “The waterfall”(English-Japanese version).á Poems and sketches “Whispering Roses” in Chinese and English, etc.

Translation work: Poetry “Counterlight”, a collection of poetry by Germain Droogenbroodt