Bēi Lín

In mandarin characters,
The northern woods resemble
Trees or crutches—or maybe

Trees on crutches. Over here,
Far east of China, one tree
Smiles, leaning on its crutches.

Sometimes it’s hard to fall down
In the center of the woods,
The northern woods, where other,

Sturdier pines crowd so close,
Nights of roaring songs in wind,
There’s no such too much muchness.