The Mountain Goats — Tianchi Lake

[Verse 1] Children by the water banks laughing long and loud Changbai’s high fine western peaks just beneath the clouds Currents in the water churning in their course Body of a sea-lion, head just like a horse [Verse 2] Preacher in the soft brown sand begins to speak his piece High winds in the treetops low flying winter geese No one taking pictures everybody still And then the water sought its course again the way that waters will [Verse 3] No one at the lakeside now, moon up in the sky Night birds in the dragon spruce, moaning long and high Backstroking on the surface, moonlight on its face Floats the Tianchi Monster, staring into space [Verse 4] Out around the temple now narcissus in bloom Censers packed with sandalwood send smoke into the room Children in the sand outside on their hands and knees Sketching pictures all day long of stranger things than these