Dragons the happy traveler greet. 'Such music can be heard but in celestial spheres. How many times has it been played for human ears?' In the Good Luck Garden typical southern string and bamboo folk music is for mere mortals played.Entrance to this scene of peace and beauty is not lightly granted. One must first the gods of music please. '好,' spake the traveler, '请你来八宝茶和开心果。' (Ok, please bring me Eight Treasures Tea and pistachios.) Appeased, the musicians play on, the experience by sipping the tea, worthy of its name, enhanced.
The traveler wanders throughout a park of human arts and nature.
A woman beautiful watery calligraphy, for the eyes of few, creates; her work behind her dries. She heeds viewers not, absorbed in her craft.
The traveler comes upon much bamboo, of species rare and beautiful, square and purple.
All this, though, was unexpected. Arriving at the destination, open-air opera in traditional style, the traveler is less moved. The journey, once again, has greater than the destination proven. The singers' wails do not please the traveler, and their subject matter seems to the traveler argumentative and repetitive.
This art belongs to another generation. They sit in a flock, enjoying the familiar music and communing with each other, long flapping fans in constant motion.
The traveler with interest notes the costumes, particularly the footwear, high styled platforms, worn by the performers. And then, having seen, moves on.
A train to Shanghai awaits.
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