Jianghu

act 1

a passerby, enamored with her marvelous splendor
her beauty picturesque, as the artist engendered
a portrait of her glamour, made the artisan richer
on display to indulge in, the art isn't censored
remind him of a chase, such an arduous venture
a cold and stoic look, she was harsh as the winter
her mood a bit churlish, had to pardon her temper
regardless of her ways, did his part to befriend her
was an old flame, eyes a hue of scarlet and ember
felt a warmth in her gaze, wasn't hard to remember
a melodious touch, worked her charm with a zither
where orchids bloom wild, hints of darkish magenta
she kept herself disciplined, and guarded her center
a peerless swordswoman, gifted martial defender
virtuouso, not a farce and pretender
supported folks threatened by a harmful agenda
wicked scoundrels, tried their darnedest to end her
them unrighteous hypocrites, got martyred or injured
he recognized her prowess, as a hardened contender
an unrivaled duelist, hailed the obvious victor
recalled her own sibling, who plotted against her
a disloyal wench, and incompetent sister
promiscuous...dissolute, a harlot and trickster
disemboweled, butchered up, then tossed in the river
her sword dance hypnotic, made the audience whisper
her loveliness sublime...truth, a prominent fixture
devoted to his heart, she belonged to her mister
so pleased to reminisce, he was fond of her picture
athletic and robust, she was drawn to his vigor
he shadowboxed alone, to grow his confidence bigger
yearned to be his darling, and bond with him quicker
this soulmate of hers, was such a dominant figure
his shifu was a drunk, he would squabble and bicker
amongst emptied wine jugs, and pots full of liquor
his breath a foul musk, made her nauseous and sicker
in spite of her grievance, he was awkwardly chipper
her husband was an optimist, a positive thinker
fearless with his halberd, also calm in demeanor
lethal. one strike from his palm could defeat her
extraordinary bladesman, never flaunted it either
spoke in honeyed words, made his compliments sweeter
relished her and knew, it was wrong to mistreat her
burning with desire, an erogenous fever
their skinship was lewd, made her fall even deeper
in love with his gravitas, she paused for a breather
and watched him progress, into the consummate leader
adventured with his wife, and an obstinate drinker
a tale about the romance, of zhong jie and qing'er.


act 2

behold a violent manslayer, too sadistic and base
came from lowborn heritage, and lived in disgrace
heart was pitch black, dark as an infinite space
full of anguish and vitriol, it twisted his faith
demented mindset. turbulent. afflicted with hate
an amalgam of scorn, birthed the wickedest traits
had a masculine physique, and ridiculous strength
a lean build was appropriate, to quicken his pace
ambidextrous. his knifecraft?, depicted as great
while his gong fu? supreme-ish. a legitimate ace
no...overblown theatrics, or grandiloquent waste
aristocratic bullies or their flippant complaints
he would kowtow to buddha, to diminish his angst
when prayer didn't work, he rescinded his thanks
joined a righteous sect, then ascended the ranks
he later got expelled, due to mischevious pranks
he was singled out. baited. by duplicitous fakes
and deviant philanthropists, christened as saints
the reprobate elites with their frivolous tastes
delinquent braggarts, analogous to primitive apes
all them quasi-protagonists were venomous snakes
who argued good vs. evil, through endless debates
fond of wine in jade cups and traditional plates
dulcet flowered courtyards and priveleged estates
he was hellbent. a pugilist who did what it takes
all them paragons of goodness were impotent flakes
severed heads on a polearm, affixed in its place
the blood from their carotids, misted their face
ostentatious. his testimony. ditched at the gates
betwixt active citygoers, and shipments of freight
where local merchants gather, and visitors traipse
a loud scream for zhong jie. to admit his mistakes
every subhuman dirtbag, gets sent to their graves
the wench appear? ha! cut her tendons with blades
the shifu? long dead. he was stricken with plague
even jie was left numb, since he crippled his legs
he was powerless. reliant on attendants and maids
a sado-masochist. hurtful to dependents and slaves
qing'er loooved it, aroused by his iniquitous ways
both unnatural, perverse fiends. rich and depraved
as he reminisced? ye li dealt with fits of malaise
all the devils in his past life? scripted cliches
just a mishmash of parodies, and whimsical knaves
while his exploits became so resplendent with age
li was deft at surveillance, had a vigilant gaze
he tailed jie to a park, took a bench in the shade
near an antiquated bust, ye li mentioned his name
jie felt a knife at his throat...
...then he grimaced in pain.




act 3

always kept her distance, knew to follow his lead
tapped her earbud, waited for his call to proceed
good to navigate the traffic, at a moderate speed
her expertise in stealth made her father relieved
their wetwork? proficient. thus an operative team
a tandem of vengeful cìkè who zhong jie aggrieved
no signs of remorse. harsh. yes, a problem indeed
did the framework. masterminded a volatile scheme
their goal? retribution, hence nirvana's achieved
amituofuo. modest. they never sought the prestige
their chief target an oligarch and hostile regime
sanctioned his wife first, was a bothersome thing
seen tortured and headless, in an alternate scene
her flesh peeled off. gross. macabre and extreme!
word. her doom was inescapable, a plausible theme
she accrued evil karma, being a goddess and queen
took pride in her atrocities, wrongs and misdeeds
turned demonic. more specifically monstrous fiend
intolerant of her sister, qing's jaundice routine
rong's appeal made her envious, as odd as it seem
her delusion's psychotic. it caused her to scream
to puke blood and convulse, and fall to her knees
too hysterical to meditate and swallow or breathe
thought ye li was trash. however, rong disagreed
gave birth to yanmei and didn't bother with qing
made her family life joyful both calm and serene
yet her peace was interrupted by an ominous dream
so horrendous. the imagery it brought was obscene
on to present day jianghu, mr. zhong the bereaved
tyrannized his province for as long as he pleased
an unscrupulous crime lord, had a doctrinal creed
his rule was absolute, being a sovereign and king
indifferent to unlawfulness or conglomerate greed
burnt from exhaustion he was fraught with disease
housebound from cancer, looked gaunt and fatigued
supped on congee with meat buns and osmanthus tea
jie kept to his wheelchair, ensconced in his seat
he depopulated the poor, then stomped on the weak
see his ring of paid goons were the vaunted elite
all dead within hours when their job was complete
the carbon arrow broadhead she nock were distinct
each shot mad precise, bet. it called for a drink
she conveyed her jubilation with a nod and a wink
gripped her compound bow, then walked to her jeep
a unique grand commander buildup modern and sleek
then scheduled a tongzhi spa, massage for a treat
their rendezvous spot was at her fathers boutique
she bumped jianghu: act 2, and rocked to the beat
gone from the parking garage and on to the street
to buy joss paper, mooncakes, and kumquats to eat
a box of ferrero rochers, the chocolate was sweet
plus a laichan cheongsam, nothin squalid or cheap
zhong jie her dads mark, his prospects were bleak
when all hope is lost?, it make an optimist freak
he stalked him undetected and blocked his retreat
a first ring knife within the gloss of his sheath.