Lumen Syntax:
Chiaroscuro Lyrics in Classical Style
Antoine LIU, China
2025.6
Catalogue
Twelve Sonnets
Sonnet 1 of the Light
Sonnet 2 of the Winter
Sonnet 3 of the Philosophy
Sonnet 4 of the Night
Sonnet 5 of the Paradise
Sonnet 6 of the Music
Sonnet 7 of the Belief
Sonnet 8 of the Flower
Sonnet 9 of the Life
Sonnet 10 of the Dawn
Sonnet 11 of the Star
Sonnet 12 of the Moon
To the Tune of Madame Qi
River at Night
Wandering in Spring Field
War and Peace
Jupiter Ode
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Hymn to Mid-Autumn
Morning Juice
Traveling among Strangers
Orion in the Orient
Spring Vulnerability
Pen’s Rebellion
A Portrait to a Lady
Through Storms and Silence
Two Madrigal Episodes
1
2
I Dare No Fall
Days Deversed
Preface
These verses you hold are more than ink on paper -- they are the quiet echoes
of a soul navigating light and shadow, time and memory. I, Antoine, offer
this collection not as a perfected canon, but as a testament to a journey: from
the earnest sonnets of youth to the bolder experiments of recent years.
Twelve Sonnets, my earliest works, grapple with innocence -- light, winter,
philosophy, love -- each a stepping stone toward understanding life’s
dualities. These poems are windows to a younger self seeking grace in chaos.
To the Tune of Madame Qi bridges East and West. Translations of my
classical Chinese verses, like River at Night and War and Peace, weave Tang
Dynasty lyricism with English form. Moonlit rivers, geese in flight, and
battlefield dirges become meditations on transience -- where "feast dissolved
in regret" and soldiers "guard the land with heart and life."
Later works embrace rebellion and renewal. Pen’s Rebellion declares artistic
freedom -- "No longer chained to censored line," where ink becomes a "saber
forged in thought." Spring Vulnerability captures ephemeral beauty --
daffodils, rowboats, and "time’s parchment softening in a sunbeam’s frame."
Orion in the Orient fuses Chinese proverb with cosmic myth, honoring
tradition while "striding into the vast forest with no fear."
Light recurs, as hope (Hymn to Mid-Autumn’s "waxed moon mild"), as truth
(A Portrait to a Lady’s "radiance dwelling deep in you"), and as defiance (I
Dare No Fall’s "luminous air"). Silence, too, holds power: Through Storms
and Silence questions solitude, while Two Madrigal Episodes finds wisdom
in nature’s "buoyant hush."
Music pulses through these lines -- from piano keys in Sonnet 6 to the
"revolutionary might" of syntax in Pen’s Rebellion. Even Morning Juice’s
villanelle-like rhythm mirrors dawn’s "hovering wave."
These poems are my sanctuary. They hold winters of doubt, mid-autumns of
longing, and springs of fragility. They rebel against confinement, yet kneel
before beauty. In Days Deversed, I mourn creativity’s absence -- where
"faded snow" masks a land "deceited."
To you, reader, I entrust these fragments. They are my dialogue with time
— a plea to "gaze at me, hold me in your soft hand / On our smooth way to
our dreaming fairyland" (Sonnet 1). May they whisper to your own light,
your own storms, your own silent reveries.
2025.6
Twelve Sonnets
(Earlier Poems in the Author’s Childhood)
Sonnet 1 of the Light
Give me sunlight, give me rainy day
For I would catch beauties, in my well-sighted eye.
Shadows went gone like zephyr, as you lay
There and dressed yourself with bright sunshine.
While the solemn sun was going to the west,
It didn’t mean that your youth would fade as well.
A warm heart was still there, beating in our chest,
Despite winds and clouds hiding them meanwhile.
Your shadow grew into a grandly blooming rose
After rain irrigated it with love and passion;
I should bend to take it up, avoid to lose,
Treasure your feelings, value your expression.
Hence gaze at me, hold me in your soft hand,
On our smooth way to our dreaming fairyland.
Sonnet 2 of the Winter
The trace of the first snow limned the winter face,
The earth of any sentiments stretched his wave.
Growing coldness wouldn’t remove your grace,
Since you like to express all things that you have.
You stared at winter’s eyes and heartly smil’d,
For its mercy that didn’t make pitiless harm;
I saw your nature from your behaviour mild
And realised what could reflect your charm.
Winter light poured onto your face shyly,
When you paced on the snow covered path;
Your chuckles appeared in the wind slightly;
In resonance with melting ice was your breath.
As season changing slowly with eternal time,
I would still keep our heart of holy love sublime.
Sonnet 3 of the Philosophy
Why not hear the divine voice innermost?
That was speaking rationality, love and peace.
However, things ignore our position of host,
There were always warfare, evil and injustice.
The world seems in a longer solitude,
Floating upon the sea of mist and smog;
We’re all watching the endless vicissitude
Till it comes to the agnostic epilog.
On the majestic life stage, we tried our best
To comprehend what should be finally probed;
As for the eternal time, it set a contest
For everybody, which cannot be described.
O my sage, come out and save the earth,
Lest it would be lonely and dark since birth.
Sonnet 4 of the Night
Things come to a temporary end at night,
As secrets start to generate in silence;
The whole world were stolen by blurred light
With dreams, sweet words and soft fragrance.
It could be foreseen that our love would grow,
Like mist in the alley, rose deeply and gradually;
It could be random where the flute sounds blow,
Taking my wishes and sensations cordially.
After receiving my letters, don’t vainly grieve,
Since in the night, I kept you in my mind;
As I fall asleep, there your longings achieve,
While I wake up, you would discover me hind.
Night belongs to our youth, our enthusiasm alive,
Our mutual sight in the darkness would then derive.
Sonnet 5 of the Paradise
A shelter of my soul and yours stood quietly,
In mist down the dales, up to high firmament;
How essential it was to figure out heartly,
To find the angel’s trace and each movement.
Eulogies and praises were dispensable there,
With clear air fraught by ideal, zeal and purity;
Maybe brave Prometheus stole a torch of fire
From that place, which caused his gaol in eternity.
You can imagine what you want for times long,
Including your expectations and yearning;
Since I take you with me, all would be thereamong,
And it would start as a new life, new morning.
Believe in me there would be such a paradise;
At least it lies in our hearts, away from bise.
Sonnet 6 of the Music
Among what I’ve seen, your face is the best arioso
That is mellifluous enough to knock at my door;
While your eyes, are the best recitativo
That carries innumerable words hard to ignore.
Piano keys was played by your flexible fingers,
Making every note fraught of blazing sensation;
That led me to the land where the love lingers,
And told me: you’re in my lively imagination.
Shall I compare thee to a piece of sonata
Where the time formed your tuneful resonance;
Would I apologise for my poor, curt stanza
Because it does hide your charmful appearance.
Tune of joy, of an unfading concord,
Would always diffuse spring on land of Lord.
Sonnet 7 of the Belief
O my Lord in you solemnity, regard me
The tiny ant facing you giant, hard to attain;
I would go down religiously on my knee,
Trying to report what I’ve known in my brain.
I witnessed the historical tides rose, ebbed,
Sweeping the human joy and grief, but in vain;
On behalf of all persons being grabbed,
I endeavour to speak, all facts were certain.
How would your goodness keep staying aside?
Human in great pain require your redemption;
But whose power could make everything abide?
Beauty, peace and love were in the corruption.
Hope you hear me and accept my sacred belief,
Hence, ignorant people would thank the relief.
Sonnet 8 of the Flower
Why not plant a flower seed into wet earth,
Then watch it grow up, as fast as possible;
What you planted was just bud of our faith,
Making pure noble wishes accessible.
It would stretch long, it would blossom in the wind,
Shining its dim light, delivering its scent,
When there comes the night, therefore you should find
That it was always underneath in silent.
Show me some mercy or show me some affection,
Lest I’d lose my strength to thrive, to live along!
That’s the flower’s urgency as a fraction;
You heard that and tried the best to make it strong.
It was merely a flower, a small creature;
As it stired the persuit to love, that’s your nature.
Sonnet 9 of the Life
Have you ever been born, learnt hard to speak well,
To walk smoothly and to look at your vast world?
As you growing older, time would gradully tell,
Your long summer was beyond what you behold.
Studied to accept, to independently reject,
The youth of melancholy took possession;
Your failure, your success, your sense to deject,
Constructed your memory, made conclusion.
With eyes deeply inlaid, ripples floated on mind,
Beside the fireplace, was your elder look;
On memories you feed, and stayed alive,
Like the dance of falling leaves, towards the root.
Your farewell, your return, your reluctant part,
After your fortunate life, that’s a new start.
Sonnet 10 of the Dawn
What was gently arising from the sea level,
The breath of the sky, the motion of the wave;
Notes were connected by a golden needle,
Commanded by the pianist that nature gave.
Humid fragrance was dancing around at will,
Speaking adoration by lightly butterflies;
As a hand of summon was the serene rill,
Letting soft branches to confide their applies.
Wind of dawn has brought vague mists to the air,
Tried hard to confine feelings into the earth;
We often ignore it was golden light’s flair,
That made us see the grand feast of morning warmth.
As dawn went away, our happiness would remain,
Looking forwards to the brilliant morning again.
Sonnet 11 of the Star
Have you ever watched the eyes from the Heaven,
That were gazing at your graceful, chaming form?
You saw their jealousy, which couldn’t be forgiven,
And tears fell as if there suddenly came a storm.
How many young men were there, holding envies,
Trying their best to steal your heart out rapidly;
But you were always there, showing your beauties,
Making them know you’re a star, shining highly.
I saw your night in your solemn governance,
With hovering sensations, walking loneliness;
All stars, actors in magnificent performance,
Set your radiance off, and your tenderness.
If there is anything to make best description,
That shine the star lights, in your ascription.
Sonnet 12 of the Moon
Your eyes full of love, were casting your light
Into the dark, holy land without human trace;
There you could dress yourself up in the vast height,
Lest stars would besiege you by their shining lace.
The world was a grand fair at night where all awake,
Where wandering around was on your disdain;
They enjoyed, they crowded, forgot the sake
That they had yet suffering from great pain.
Why so stingy, miserly to share your bright beams?
Those were being badly yearned by the creatures;
However, they could see your intangible steams,
As you made the solemn sun on his departures.
So farewell to your past, welcome the new day,
Until your missions had achieved in a way.
Compiled in 2024.3
To the Tune of Madame Qi
(Three Poems Translated from the Author’s Chinese Ancient Styled Poems)
River at Night
River at night, chilly specks of stars higher on,
Moon rised from waves, mingled the sky beside.
Fragrance as jade, spoke sincere in wine and song,
Which reminded of Liu Yong’s poem to the tide[1].
Wild geese passed by no words swung,
Tiny boats came hereto in letters slide,
Who turned correspondently, only friends of honesty,
That make my delicate poetic words in congruity.
The moon lingering to the west, sparrows
Upon the mansion, to the southern lake they sang.
Meditating of mine, water in sky that flows
Clear, purified illumination from night so long.
Shadows left around, lotus and wandering narrows,
We sought for the jollity, toward our hometown.
Recognition expected, from the horizon we back,
For whom our youth had not been a thorough lack.
Which diminished near the water of purity,
Waves lost should pace wherever they track;
Feast dissolved in regret and memories of reality,
Friend leaves sleeve stretched, farewell to night black,
Curtain fell and traveler always alone by futurity,
No one to talk except the glasses before or aback.
At the very whitening distant, here I double,
Time passed and sun rolling east was visible;
That effulgence, golden gloriole has shown,
Scampering surge, all belonged to my own.
Wandering in Spring Field
Spring in time, a piece of music with dilute dust,
Willow waves rounded, warm breeze flirts with verdure.
Tranquil perfume, no trace left but cold fogs last,
On the rivulet I gaze totally onto the sky azure.
Swallows are lovely and departure not a must,
A lonely traveler on an endless way, no cease sure.
Mind not dawn nor dusk, go ahead through it keen,
Spring mist in the morning, unmanned field green.
Oriole songs are about to hear. Flute music for mile
Hovering itself, fluff in the air’s falling and swung.
Water congeals stagnant, lain those green textile
As evening light is coming by the end of love song.
Beauty where, hold my hand and think for a while
Jade diadem and soft quilt, sweet face there upon.
When to make your entrance to my door,
Spring is leaving under the candle’s odor.
Moonlight spreads beyond the firmament
How can we retain, spring departed away,
Which taken our gentleness with her movement
Making our mind, spirit messy and sway.
Old dreams, transient madrigals with lament
Several times who I am, no one could say.
Fatigue man, only the stars in permanence,
See the moon and let my soul freely dance.
Cuckoo howling reflects the glory round,
As I wandering in spring ebb with such sound.
War and Peace
Wine of thousand, armour and weapon with frost,
Passes over the majestic snowy river, my valued steed.
Long spears, exotic willows, where the smoke lost,
Walls are established while the city is in great need.
Wild grass and lonely tent, horses north deserts host,
Geese flap and our warriors crumble the foe’s deed.
All quelled. Now the vast territory without an end,
No more grasped in counterpart from the out lend.
Moon bright in the dawn encountered field desolate,
Flags among the sky, drums in dumbfounding viberation,
Glazing light on the battle field, golden shield of fate,
Earthquaking sound to beckon, and armies for celebration,
Trumpet howls, roaring steed make the front place shake,
Point out with sword and bow, reveals giant ambition.
Sun is setting down the stronghold,
Which, certainly, conceals us bold.
Water clear beside the flower port, spring like so shine,
How wonderful, the world in my eyes so pure!
Intoxicated tree in the wind of waves, sought in wine
Behold the mountain boundless and magnolia that lure!
Jade handrail and sculpted beams, deep songs of thine
Indulged in the shallow dream. Not only return can cure
My nostalgia to the capital, his orchestral music over,
Guard the land with heart and life, our valiant soldier.
When spears are hide and bows disappear, snow fall
My memories are nothing but in a spring hall.
2024.11
Jupiter Ode
1
Rise, arise, my beloved shining twilight
Farther from the border, great and bright
So long you haven’t come up to ignite
The magnitude with spark of good tide!
2
That dominates, glamour of chancellor
Who dropped his glory unto us may suffer
Void of knowledge and loss for capacity
That beckons your spirit, for no mendacity.
3
Music the forty first, your souls that burst
Forth not behind and display as supposed
Whom you proud of, or whom you shall lost
By his grace on as the sky higher chased.
4
Your portrait of denial, your conviction
Of such a trial, among your dealt section
Above few dusk under your kneel down
To your side what may sway and shown.
5
And of a voice that called poor afar
We preach our magnificence on altar
Dig those sharp edges from front side
And unto given power of shock slide.
6
If so called a fierce that on your toe
Benign of whom want to have a foe
Dance and aggression lower neath
Than yesterday your moon on heath.
7
No more perplexing motto upon sphere
To heal and power to salvage us from ere
Augment your voice and irrigate their love
For you and a calling out of the holy dove.
8
Far my heart goes to you all, my heart
Such worldly pride and so strength of art
But why did you fade out like mist of dawn
And of a fire to be extinguished as down.
9
Those arise my way in the darkness
For angelic human mind with sharpness
That cure goodwill, of benevolence
To make your dusk into your existence.
FINE.
2024.12
Hymn to Mid-Autumn
Rise, away night’s veil, among lotus deft
In her solitude waxed moon mild, through hither
Where a rabbit occupied with light, silk craft
Needles mingled into mirth and a delicate figure
Feet upon thee, crystal like waves floating free
Who shall know that blossoms fraught with glee?
Shadow of sleeves, deep in the round silver
Pouring down the faint fragrance of osmanthus wine
Thou hearst, that white fur scamper onto earth
Herbal medicine over, and collected memories were thine.
Those into mooncake at once, that’s their worth.
They who savour cakes might feel the joy
Under the moon, the osmanthus, the affection coy.
Honey made by stories flow on eyes with
Goddess might, that pure awaiting of thin dream
No remorse but warmth onto the bridge above
Congealed time, now shines with a condensed gleam
Reflected clearly then, amid the night of love.
While thou shaking with frolic, along the rise
Flowing light to seed, and to acquire likewise
A new sweet song, shadowy moon it wove.
Does tree flirted by wind have brought
Towards iridescent time, speaking its arch
Among feathers round ridge moon does ought
Wrapped into candies, beside a bright match
He who hath shown the mercy shall meet
Movements of a pantomime on thy feet
And could he avoid the agony to parch?
Music shrouded, together lunatic fantasy
Thy cheek emerged a piece of poise
Smile with clear tears, deep grief in ecstasy,
Mix well withal in the world of noise.
But thou cannst turn perplexing blindfold
Borne by the wishes sky may kindly told
And a grey thread made his best choice
From the bush near the lake, a curve
Spread outside -- that is the candyfloss
Nor an artist’s hands could depict nor solve
Into the water, but float rarely across
Like a meteor or fallen osmanthus petal
Flowing jocundity, neither sullen metal
Dare to face the night of terrible loss.
That dresses of Goddess embrace
Breathe of mountain ridge or chain
Take that with her soft hand in tacit once
No forfeiture of mirth, be holy gain.
2024.9
Morning Juice
(Villanelle-like)
Black ink mingled with orange
in clear dreams comes
a hovering wave
Dew out loaded
reflected petals all around
Atmosphere disturbed
Stray birds greedily
Suck the syrup of sky and
a hovering wave
Mountain wind awake
At dawn looking at the diminished light
Atmosphere disturbed
Quaff the gift of moon
Everytime of Reminisce in
a hovering wave
But who can mingle
into the ink of mist to make
Atmosphere disturbed?
Morning juice
being drunk by the busy world
a hovering wave
Atmosphere disturbed.
2025.1.5
Traveling among Strangers
Pacing forward heavily
Along a plaza with miracles
Where I start to push the melody
Whose echoes through obstacles
Lower and lower like tuba sound
It is my song that built such castles.
Fake images, to die they're bound
Quelled by every fearful sense
Like an apparition I sway around.
Cruel leader, construct of peace
Saturn flew among grey souls
People don't realize them hence.
Night is hovering judgment tolls
To behold such dreary secrets softly
And give the reason incessantly rolls.
2025.1.18
Orion in the Orient
Three stars shining South,
A New Year’s coming forth.
(Chinese proverb)
Such a world to be revealed --
In one of the mirrors of human kind.
Fire gathered already, yet bell pealed
Through people’s eyes the light land.
Drunk and intoxicated, Major Cold
With his power all been quelled;
Of stars, on high their playing bold
Secret weaved and gradually shelled.
But you, my poor verse, holy with chill,
So far been derived from common will,
Fireplace would calm yet snow decay,
Orient fine traditions for ever there lay.
Light of southern sky, glow in New Year
That’s the huntsman holding higher fire
To stride into the vast forest with no fear.
2025.1
Spring Vulnerability
Spring weekend, as an ephemeral art,
Melts in an oven like a sweet egg tart;
Dew-dappled cycles by the willow's sigh,
Ripples compose where the rowboats glide by;
Slow, slow the wind coming through the ride,
Mirror appears where sunrise does abide.
Laughter spills through the daffodil lane,
Time's parchment softens in a sunbeam's frame;
Every flesh receiving celestial treasure
Speaks of chrismatic sense called leisure.
Velvet dusk wraps the transient refrain,
Monday's shadow hums a distant train.
2025.5
Pen’s Rebellion
Several days of rigid confinement
You took your incredible, rapid flight
To the blank pages of lucid movement
Which was brewing a revolutionary might.
No longer chained to censored line,
You carved freedoms in parchment skin—
Where midnight ink cascades like wine,
And cursive banners rise within.
Your nib, a saber forged in thought,
Dissolved the wax of tyrant's seal,
Each serif a spark rebellion caught,
Syntax sharpening truths that reveal.
Now verses bloom where rules once bled,
A lexicon of unbounded dawn—
The quill that fractured fetters’ thread
Has crowned the page its sovereign lawn.
Let ledger-keepers gasp in fright,
Their margins breached by wilder prose—
For every stanza now takes flight
Where constellations decompose.
The rebellion’s hymn in indigo flows,
A democracy of ink unveiled,
Where even silence finds its prose
And no horizon stays curtailed.
2025.4
A Portrait to a Lady
I dare not speak of hues that claim
To crown thy violet-tinged domain,
In thy realm I trace the wind's refrain
Through tales by trembling brush aflame.
By inner fire that knows no rest,
Thy face, like dawn's ascending glow,
Is kindled; and thy golden breast
Commands the mind's sun-gilded flow.
Temple of Heaven! Through my verse
Thou reign o'er vistas none construe,
My art too frail to disburse
The radiance dwelling deep in you.
Yet I must chant this constant truth —
Thy grace veils flaws as veils the moon;
Since birth, celestial fragrance strewn
Has clad thy joy in ageless youth.
How paint with breath that dims thy blaze?
What palette holds affection's hue?
All pigments fade in Time's harsh gaze,
Thou leap'st from shade to light made new.
The prologue ends where thou shalt rise,
When lost, I hear thy clarion call,
Mended what broken hearts befall —
No gleam, but sunrise in thine eyes.
2025.4
Through Storms and Silence
I dreamt of seasons on average
Where they are spent unequally indeed;
Walls and ceilings did presage,
Where I remained the subcelestial weed.
Oh wild houses in storm
Befell those who detested them most,
No place dwelt with norm
Can we be guests rather than host.
In a silent hour
I dare no sleep begun;
Yet a blooming flower
Bound to delight someone.
Let’s call it laughter,
Towards wandering souls,
And days in lofty rafters
Seem waiting for night owls.
Pilots certainly not am I,
Winds shake the wings aside,
The only way to catch your eye
For which the beginnings abide.
Another sky was seen
Clearly, unblurred the same;
Things have all been
In colloquies of shame.
But how to reach the solitude
By weighing time or measuring days?
I’d speak not of platitude
To stretch the plains and greys.
We remove the sunlight
From the drawn-back track,
His shadow through lily-white
Painted fading black.
2025.5
Two Madrigal Episodes
1
Figurines of nature cast his shadow
Through decals in these lofty foliage.
When we whisper for another sunbeam,
In our gaze, Rosa multiflora gleamed.
A silent pact between the sky and stars,
Trading hues of each visage afar;
Beneath his stature, there unfolds
Every creed that living forms hold.
2
In the Capybara’s lucid eye, I glimpsed
An agriculture of the unmarred.
Buoyant hush above the timid breeze,
With which fields cast their scattered seeds.
Pastoral vistas need no rehearsed scripts—
Why not reclaim that pulse-stitched eclipse?
Intuition unweaves the world by thread,
Into ways no eye has charted yet.
2025.5
I Dare No Fall
I built my eyes and dwell
With darkness and hell
The ones cook their bed
Which forges them ahead
Linger in scorn. Boredom in praise
I see all in mountain-exalted stage
I dare no fall. Past was now.
Wash the light from night his gown
Hatred of god and god was born
Sober voice the wind has made
Through window's unseen shade
We ate our days. Dream we found
Bitterly in a correspondent sound
Among linear time gone astray
Discrete memories heavily portray
I dare no fall. Past was now.
Luminous air hangs the lake
Above a clear rippled flake
I can dig my eyes into sand
Where they got back to bland
Zero hour is drunk so shy
We do kiss it in aimless sly
I dare no fall. Past was now.
2025.5
Days Deversed
(Days without Verses)
Faded snow dwelt
In seasons of uniformity
Yet pale sorrow spelt
Beyond unprecedented fecundity.
I saw someone taking his script
Walking alone, smooth as sweep
Said that his fatherland deceited
One finger of truth asleep,
Pyramid bewildered
Lately enigmas scattered:
Poorest the scale, your weight
Of no man tease fever shalt
I'm of the lowest height
How do the nations exalt...
Stately in hold of nonentity
Birth befallen with infinity
beg the suspensive day deversed
Where nature get may reversed.
2025.5
[1]
A famous Chinese ancient poem in Song Dynasty, titled “To the Tune of the Seatide Seeing”,
written by Liu Yong.
