Ho (whose name means “Spring Essence”) was an 18th century Vietnamese concubine. Writing as a male, she followed this Confucian tradition. Many of her poems are double entendres: each has hidden within another poem, with sexual meaning revealing itself as a pun. No other poet dared this as sex, is a forbidden topic in this literary tradition. Her excellence as a poet allowed her to get away with irreverence. Her exquisite cleverness and skill in composing 2 poems at once, one hidden allowed her to capture audiences and survive.
A favorite:
“The Well Spring”
A narrow path descends through brush
To the bright water of your wondrous pool.
Under a footbridge’s pale twin planks
The pure spring shunts in shimmering rills.
Tufts of sedge surround its mouth.
A golden carp glides midstream.
Finding this well, so virginal and clear,
Who would put a catfish here?
This most enjoyable poem—absorbed slowly—yields pleasure-reaping moments and many smiles. Spring Essence concludes my simultaneous 3-female poet reading project.
Comments are closed.