[white]

by Changming Yuan

out of thick clouds
like mountains of inflated cotton
high above spring fog, much
lighter than the snow of last year
a biblical dove flies, soaring around
as if unable to find a place
to perch on land, where reed flowers
grow tall in the fields of salt, where
ivories float around
in rivers of milk

while all colors are present in this kingdom
no pale surface absorbs any light
as in the background of
each traditional chinese painting