Suzchou - Poems

How the Loquats Came to Suzhou


It has long been forgotten when,

and taken for granted

that one morning, a golden surplus

was delivered to Suzhou.



Rolling in nuggets wildly down lanes,

it sunk into gardens,

and was eventually absorbed

as a heightened general glow.



That's why now each spring,

colorfully clothed villagers

set up tables close together,

on every turn, in front of their houses,



piled high

with identical overflowing baskets.

confident

in the unlimited appeal.



Now the conversations

on the touring boats get louder.

They've moved the tables

into the inside decks during the night.



Leisurely peeling,

we float together off the Suzhou coast

luscious, sweet, exposing

our dark, gem-like seeds.

Kath Abela Wilson

The poet reports:  .  .  .  this poem  .  .  .  I wrote while on a visit to Suzhou, based on what we saw and experienced. .  .  .  I  . .  send you a photo to accompany, that I took on the tour boat,  .  .  .  I could rename the poem . . . In some ways I like the mystery. It could be called "A Golden Surplus in Suzhou."