David Punter

I’m proposing to use this blog to publish poetry and political comment. Here is a poem I published some years ago, which is an adapted translation from the Chinese:

Poeme Trouvee

Some years later both the
Young man’s parents died; and he showed
Such filial piety in his mourning
That a divine fungus appeared on the roof
Of his mourning-hut; and the grain
In that district grew three
Ears on reach stalk. The local
Authorities reported this to the Emperor, and informed him too
That several dozen
white swallows had nested in the rafters
Of our hero’s roof. The Emperor
Was so impressed that he immediately raised
The young man’s rank.