Where to Live (Du Fu) West of the Flower Washing Stream, not far downstream from the bridge, the master has chosen a quiet spot here in t

Where to Live (Du Fu) West of the Flower Washing Stream, not far downstream from the bridge, the master has chosen a quiet spot here in the woods by the river. Living apart from the city crowds, the world loosens its grip; murmuring of this clear water dissolves the sadness that burdens a stranger. Countless dragonflies play in the air, dancing up and down; a pair of wild ducks out in the stream swim and dive together. You could take a boat downstream, thousands of miles to the east­ or else forget the boat, and live here by this stream forever. I live in New Hampshire because it is where I was born, so it is as close to a homeland as I have. I wish it had nicer things, like better food culture, so I will improve it as much as I can. Many friends I know want to move to the city when young and then to the country with a house when they are old. This seems backwards to me. I want a home now, with workshop and woods I and my children can run wild in. (I am 30 and am in the final month of building a home just 5 minutes walk from Amherst village, on 4.5 acres). When I am old I may sell my house, maybe all my things, and move to a small flat in a city, like Cambridge MA or Paris.