CONTENTS
FOREWORD
ONE Begin the Ceremony
LETTER TO MYSELF ON MY BIRTHDAY
A BRIDGE TO CHINA
TO THE CHINESE PEOPLE, WHO SEE THE SAME STARS
TWO Strangers and Kin
PAPER FLOWERS
NEARLY
MEETING OUR CHINESE COUSINS
TWO WOMEN LEAVING BEIJING
IMMOLATION OF A STRANGER
HAWTHORNS
CITY OF DUST AND WATER
THE GUEST CHAIR AT NANKAI UNIVERSITY
CHINAVISION
STORYTELLER
THREE In the Company of Magpies
THE CHINESE ART & CULTURE TOUR
SYLVIA PLATH IN CHINA
GHOST CITY
THE TRUTH ABOUT HISTORY
HOW TO CHANGE A COUNTRY
YIN AND YANG
MR. YUAN’ S TWO JOYS
CHINESE PUZZLE
FULL MOON HARVEST FESTIVAL AT THE SPA CITY
PEACE ROAD KINDERGARTEN
TIGER HILL
VISION AT TAI-SHAN MOUNTAIN
FOUR Looking for Grace
WHERE IT HURTS
DEEP ENOUGH TO GO HOME
SCARRED BAGGAGE
FOUND SNAPSHOT: THE YEAR HIS SISTER LEFT
REMEMBERING THE THREE GORGES
THE ROPE
MISSING IN CHINA
FOR THOSE WHO DREAM OF CRANES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE MAY SWENSON POETRY AWARD