Peng, whose wingspan covers the sky
Alights on Yellow Mountain’s Peak
Red eyes survey the village below
From whom will he take today?
Old Mrs. Yen, asleep on the porch,
Broom still in her hand,
Will have fewer dreams after today;
fewer remembered celebrations, fewer regrets.
The seasons pass…
One winter moon shines through the window:
Mrs. Yen, a guileless smile upon her cheeks.
Peng beats his mighty wings, rises;
In his claws, a small, lifeless form.
Across valleys, rivers, then higher,
Through the clouds to Celestial Abode.
Wakened, Mrs. Yen opens her eyes
And cries as family embraces her.
Frank H is the host of dVerse today. Frank says:
To participate in this prompt write a poem paying attention to the descriptive detail that will tell readers what the poem is about and what you hope will hold their interest and make them want to read it again.
“Peng” painting by Sue Gurland.
Tao Talk 
How can I resist a poem with winter moon in it? 🤩 I love this magical, spiritual blend of imagery. Lovely. Glad we found each other. 🌷
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:) Glad you enjoyed the poem, oh I see your name, cool!
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Very memorable description of Peng taking Mrs. Yen to a place where she will have fewer regrets embraced by her family.
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Thank you, Frank.
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This reads as a piece of a larger mythology… (or a dream, that might be the same). The mighty dragon lifting the wretched woman who only finds herself back at bed… could be cyclic in the end.
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Thanks, Bjorn, it is a piece of a larger mythology.
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Peng, pterodactyl or dragon, sets the scene so well. We expect tragedy, and get a sigh of relief with the positive turn at the end; a fun read.
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Thank you, Glenn, that’s what I was going for. I even gave the beastie red eyes.
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a good death for Mrs Yen – beautifully described
Old Mrs. Yen, asleep on the porch,
Broom still in her hand,
Will have fewer dreams after today;
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Thank you, Laura, yes it was.
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A sigh of relief. Good old Peng with his red eyes.
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I was curious of Peng’s endeavor, worried for Mrs. Yen and lifted with the positive end.
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Thank you, Astrid.
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I think I like peng better than the grim reaper! Your descriptions are very good!
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:) Me too, Dwight! Thank you!
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You have a way with mythology. I think it’s true for some that death visits more gradually than just in a final swoop. (K)
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Kerfe, I read somebody’s poem this week where their loved one slowly lost their mind with dementia/Alzheimers, and it got me thinking, maybe that is the way nature does it so the person doesn’t fear or suffer at the end. The “gradual visits” let the person coast at the end. They not only lose the “good stuff” that troubles their loved ones to witness, but they lose all of that guilt and worry along with it. What do you think? I agree with Dwight, it’s way better than one day you open the door and The Grim Reaper is standing there.
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It’s an interesting thought. My mother was a hypochondriac, and one of the first things that happened with her dementia was that all those phantom illnesses went away. So perhaps it is a gradual easing into what comes next. But I still don’t want to go that route myself.
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It’s an idea that was sparked just this week so it will need to ferment awhile now.
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I’ll be thinking about it too.
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p.s. The story of the Peng bird is an old one from the Chuang Tzu. I just used it as a vehicle to act as emissary in the poem.
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I’m not familiar with it, but I’ll look it up.
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https://www.thedaobums.com/topic/20997-chuang-tzu-chapter-1-section-a/
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Thanks!
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You’re welcome, K.
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As my grandmother, who was always too anxious to get on an airplane, was passing she told my Aunt that she would be flying right over those (Wasatch) mountains soon. I thought of her as you painted this fiercely gentle emissary. Wonderful Jade.
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Lona, I’m so happy the poem made you think of your grandmother and her belief near her passing. You warm my heart with the knowledge.
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Excellent writing Lisa — wonderful descriptors. Sad mystical story… :-(
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Thank you, Rob, glad you liked it.
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Lisa, so imaginative and I love the description of Mrs. Yen’s impending death.
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Thanks Linda
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A different angel… and joy at a reunion.
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:) yes
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I am touched by Peng and Mrs.Yen … a bit unsettled somehow, but touched!
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Beverly, thanks and glad you were touched. It’s meant to be a gentle story of passing.
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I love this story so much. Beautifully told. I am especially touched by, “Wakened, Mrs. Yen opens her eyes
And cries as family embraces her.” I attended my grandmother’s death, and this describes exactly how it felt to me, a gentle falling asleep and waking to a new loving dimension. So thank you for this illuminating tale.
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Victoria, thank you very much and glad you connected with the story <3
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It started out so ominously, I feared the worst but then a pleasant surprise at the end. Great visual detail that allowed the reader to really visualize the action.
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Susanne thank you. Death is seen as a menacing thing so many times. What I wanted was for the fears and regrets to be taken from Mrs. Yen so she could die peacefully and then be carried to her loved ones waiting for her. Glad you connected with the story.
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Beautiful imagery and cadences. I am curious about why you used the word “Peng” to describe the bird., which I took to be death. Are you aware that it can mean either either a drugged state (specifically,achieved via marijuana) or beautiful? Strangely enough, it has both Chinese and Jamaican roots.
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Peng (the bird) is what it is called in the Chuang Tzu/Zhuangzi, one of the texts on philosophical Taoism/Daoism. There are discussions by the scholars on what Chuang Tzu meant by the bird, but I don’t think there is consensus. I am a student of philosophical Taoism and have always liked Peng and so used the concept here for death. Interesting on its meaning in another culture for drugged state or beautiful!
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I know.. Resources also said it is used as a name for Marijuana in China as well. I could find no mention of it as a word for death but it was quite clear in your poem what it stood for. Beautiful poem, Jadeli.
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haha! I could see Chinese youth taking a word for a flying bird that was written in 400 BC and turning it into marijuana! Thank you, Judy.
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Yes.. Youth culture doesn’t end at the borders of the U.S.
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Beautifully written poem, Jade.
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Thank you, Purple (I know your name isn’t Purple, but…)
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Sara
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I’ll try to remember. Thank you, Sara.
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I really immersed in this, I wanted it to go on, such a good read.
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:) Thank you!
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Pleasure
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