Tamsui River, Taipei: Dadaocheng Wharf

by Chen Qu-Fei

I. Tamsui River, Taipei

Old Sails
The scent of tea rises on river winds,
ancient sails whisper along Tamsui’s flow.
On deck, hemp sacks bear the weight of time,
Dadaocheng’s clamor—
a silent chronicle of an era.
Every docking
is a signature of history itself.

Dreams of the Wharf
Sunset dyes the river crimson,
tea merchants laugh, laborers chant,
echoing into yesterday’s memory.
Shadows stretch along the pier,
conversing with clouds on the horizon.
They seal the bustle of the day,
awaiting night’s soft unlocking.

Nocturne
Neon lights paint a modern canvas,
bicycle bells mark the prelude of dance.
Yachts ripple silver across the water,
clinking glasses pierce the night sky,
tipsy with both history and now.

River of Blended Time
The wharf endures, a silent witness.
Past and present merge on Tamsui’s waters.
Ancient street tales and modern fireworks
stand side by side,
telling dreams unfinished
and hope reignited in darkness.

II. Dadaocheng Wharf

A Scroll of the Past
Tea fragrance drifts like mist upon the river,
footsteps break across hemp and wooden boards.
The shadow of cargo ships
flirts with sunlight atop masts.
Layered ripples imprint history—
worn yet vivid.

Bridging Dreams
Old streets breathe through stone slabs,
like a hand-flipped, aged painting.
Oil-paper umbrellas drip the rhythm of rain,
lightly touching pier corners.
The sunset turns copper,
coins falling into deep crimson currents.

Garden of Night
Neon grows on the water’s skin,
beer bubbles rise like undying stars.
Bicycle bells circle,
whispering through the night.
Dancers spin on deck,
sweat forming tiny pearls
that drop into cresting waves.

Time Collaged
The past is a lost puzzle piece,
fitted into modern frames of light.
History is not concluded—
it narrates nightlife anew,
rising again in the swirl of a cocktail.