Four Poems by Rose Ausländer

 Plum Blossoms

Why do my people love the plum blossom?

My people are plum blossoms themselves

When winter storms with snow and ice

It brings forth the pink and white blossoms

When winter rages and road is forsaken

Undaunted, the blossoms forge ahead

Their tender leaves drunk with courage

Dance quietly to the wind that howls

It's more than luck, amidst the storm,

To show pluck against such mighty power

Seven told tales of the common folk

Sing praise of the plum blossom's quiet power

And wisely teach all seven tales

With iron fight but love gently

Or by the wisdom of the Chinese sages

From strength comes tenderness and

And from tenderness strength

When terror descends upon the earth

Such that all other blossoms hide in fright

Then you bloom in your still and quiet light

Bringing confidence to the world anew

Mother Tongue

I have myself

Transformed into myself

From moment to moment

Into pieces splintered

Along the way of words

Mother tongue

Put me back together

A human mosaic

*******

Love (vi)

We will find ourselves

again in the lake

you as water

me as a lotus blossom

You will carry me

I will drink of you

We will belong to each other

for all to see

Even the stars

will be filled with wonder

how two here have been

transformed back

into a dream

of their choosing

*******

The Heart Unheard

I hear the heart unheard

In my breath

A clock made of air

The melody in the music box

Alive inside the temple

With muted tones

Like spinning spheres