the emperor liyu in captivity at kaifeng

(translated from the chinese)

silent and alone i climb the west tower
the moon is like a sickle
over the plains
a solitary tree in the dark courtyard
personifies autumn herself
imprisoned here with me
what ties me to the world
my mortality
seems reaped by the moon's sickle
but is not yet severed
i am alive
briefly
my thoughts run wild
i have lost everything
courtiers castles cities empire
all
such bejewelled richnesses
that i knew
glory joy adulation
memories
in my heart
lingering