Still Night Thoughts (i mistook it for frost), 2026
handkerchief fabric, silk thread, black rice dye
16 ¾ x 6 ½ “
based on the poem 靜夜思 (Quiet Night Thoughts) by the exiled chinese poet 李白 (Li Bai, 701-762), which is the first poem i was taught to memorize by heart, just before emigrating to the u.s. i found i remembered the sounds of this poem long after i had forgotten entire worlds of chinese language.
my translation of the poem would read:
bright moonlight before my bed
at first i mistook it for winter frost
i raise my head to gaze at the bright moon
i lower my head and long for home
z. serena qiu is a textile & fiber artist 