This artist caught it perfectly
two orange carp
with grey translucent fins
backs speckled
with black dots
the white rice paper
serving as water
from above
a wisp of willow dangles
greygreen leaves
daintily branching off the stem
though not Chinese
she caught the way
that Chinese artists see
the living world
of birds and flowers
dragonflies and fish
not as we westerners
who tend to look on from outside
life's magic circle
but with a sense
of deep connection
like fond cousins
sharing the same dream