Li Po, where did you go?
Did you become one with the Tao,
or are you in some celestial, jade heaven
where dragons frolic, orioles still sing,
and beautiful maidens play the guzheng?

in case this poem somehow reaches you
through the ether, I’m a fan of your work
and would like to meet you in the afterlife

maybe you could be my mentor there,
if you were so inclined or had the time
and teach me how to write great poems
like you do –

or, at least, give me some tips
on writing better poems
in the afterlife

and, as for writing poems,
I hope wherever you are,
that is something you still do

Respectfully,

a fan in the world
of the temporarily alive.

Bob Boyd