The fictional speaker of this poem
begins to translate an ancient Chinese story,
but he doesn't know any Chinese so things
jump the tracks really quickly.
He's translating it for use in his course.
Wait you'll see.
"Ten."
In the district of Hou Tcheou Fou,
the magistrate's assistant, Chen,
was taking a nap in his study.
Suddenly, a motorized airport staircase
appeared and beckoned him to follow.
It led Chen down a path hidden by rustling thickets of bamboo
to a clearing where on a high pedestal
an enormous mirror waited in the moonlight.
"Regard what you once were in your previous life,"
said the motorized airport staircase.
Looking into the mirror, Chen saw
a man in a tasseled cap and scarlet shoes dressed
like a scholar from the recent past.
"Now see what you were in the life before that one."
Rubbing his eyes, Chen looked again and saw a high official
in old Ming costume, black cap, red dragonfly robe, belt
with Jade buckle, black boots.
Just then a disheveled servant rushed into the clearing,
prostrated himself before Chen, and exclaimed, "Don't you
recognize me?
I was your valet in Ta T'oung Fou.
But of course, that was over 200 years ago."
With that said, he handed Chen a scroll.
"What's this?"
Chen asked dreamily.
"See for yourself," the servant replied.