Fox Footprints/Exile

by Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth

For works with similar titles, see Exile.

Exile

The sun is only the sun hereBut every day when he goes to ChinaHe is a celestial dragon breathing gold and scarlet.And the moon here is only a moonBut over the pagodas she is a white phoenix,And there the stars are little silver unicorns with crystal crowns.

The iris are not like our iris, nor the chrysanthemums like our chrysanthemumsFor at dusk they hide bewitching carmine mouths behind little fansAnd the garden is filled with the sound of their hurrying slippers.The willow trees too cover white faces with their long sleevesAnd the fox bride is pledged in cups of jade.

And we,We are only lovers hereBut who knows what we might be—In China?