In Chang'an, the Penglai Palace gates
face the southern mountains
a huge gold statue holds a pan
to collect night's sacred dew
if you look west you think
of Heaven's Queen and the Jade Lake
look east you think of Lao Zi
crossing the pass in a purple mist
pheasant screens used to open
like parting clouds
and we'd behold the emperor
dressed in his dragon robes!
I wake from my hermit's nap
beside this autumn river
remembering the azure palace doors
when I was at court audiences.