With the assistance of Kenyan volunteer Sonya, Mark has set up a web site to promote the poetry of Li Shangyin. As part of cultural exchange between East and West, Mark translated over 500 works of this Tang Dynasty poet into English and made his interpretations available free on line. The Foundation’s mission has always been to promote cultural exchange and education, and this has been a singular achievement. This is the first complete translation of the great Chinese poet, and has received much praise since its inception. Please visit www.atangpoetfromnairobi.com?for more details. Here is Mark’s translation of one of Li Shangyin’s most popular poems:

Moonrise
Imagine a Midsummer Night’s Dream of magic mushrooms, fairies, spells, bizarre creatures and potions. Then imagine that this mystic scene takes place in the Middle Kingdom.
草下阴虫叶上霜，cǎo xià yīn chóng yè shàng shuāng
朱阑迢递压湖光。zhū lán tiáo dì yā hú guāng
兔寒蟾冷桂花百，tù hán chán lěng guì huā bǎi
此夜姮娥应断肠。cǐ yè héng é yīng duàn cháng
Crickets beneath the grass, frost on the leaves,
Vermilion balustrades glow above the lake.
Night brings lonely rabbits, three legged frogs, the cassia’s white flowers,
How the Moon Goddess grieves tonight!