The Tributaries
Wen Yiduo

My king! I came from distant lands to pay you respect;
I brought a shipful of goods which,
Although unfamiliar to you,
Is certain to please.
Happily have I sailed here;
Who would have known that your heart…alas!
Is a desiccated harbor!
Quietly I await your tide of love to swell,
So that my loaded ship can float in;
Several times the moon has been full,
Several times the flowers turned red;
Still waiting, I see no sign of your tide!
My kind! They say that the tide is reliable,
Now, how can I believe that?