The phoenix are at play on their terrace.
The phoenix are gone, the river flows on alone.
Flowers and grass
Cover over the dark path
where lay the dynastic house of the Go.
The bright cloths and bright caps of Shin
Are now the base of old hills.
The Three Mountains fall through the far heaven,
The isle of White Heron
splits the two streams apart.
Now the high clouds cover the sun
And I can not see Choan afar
And I am sad.
Choan is the city of Chang'an, modern Xi'an. Chang'an was the capital city for many dynasties in ancient China. In its prime, Chang'an was one of the largest cities in the world.
Buy Selected Poems of Ezra Pound
The City wall of Chang'an in Xia'an, China