Classic Poem

Under the shade of the riverbank snow lingers on; the moon is shining on the snow
The moon is colorless, so too is the snow
Moonlight and snowbreath twist together, a cold wave of heat shimmers
A flickering, dazzling, white, blue, red slender flame burns
A slender flame flares, flickering, dazzling, white, blue, red
I am told in the north country from within a snow flame the white face of a woman
can be seen
My heart trembles at the raw sound of a woman's voice as if drawing together tightly thin, colored silk
What is she saying?
What is she singing?
Lost in meaningless birdsong, my heart opens to the sky
Echoing in my breast the expression of a living voice, the sweet sound of petals falling on an open piano
Wilder than a face, a form, a kimono,
The wild heart of a woman's living voice.