Shan-Shui: Rivers-and-Mountains

 

Wang-Jian-danian-style

No rivers in China
Return to the sea
As once they did
Throughout millennia
Bringing tiny bits of mountains
To form sand on the ocean floor.

All rivers now are dammed.
Valleys flooded; cycles destroyed.
Ghosts of Wang Wei and Li Po weep.
Art and poetry vanishes with nature.
All for power.  All for greed.

 

Featured Painting:  Landscape after Zhao Danian  by  Wang Jian  (1598-1677)

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