Poems (Various)

Translated by Red Pine:

Traveling on the Yangtze

So close but plagued by wind and rain
I can't climb Kuanglushan
I wonder if in those mist-hidden caves
any Six Dynasty monks still dwell

by Ch'ien Hsu

The Meditation Hall behind Poshan Temple

I entered an ancient temple at dawn
the rising sun lit the tall trees
a trail led off to a secluded place
to a meditation hall in a flowering wood
where mountain light pleased the hearts of birds
and pond reflections stilled men's minds
the ten thousand noises were hushed
all I heard was a bell

by Ch'ang Chien

Written at the Sungting Relay Station

Hill shapes merge with the far-off sky
east of the mist-covered marshlands
the ocean glows with the day's first light
the river turns white in the distant wind
steep trails lead to a high plateau
small paths link columns of smoke
why are all my retired friends
not here among the Five Lakes

by Chang Hu

Climbing a Mountain

All day I feel lost as if drunk or in a dream
the I hear spring is over and force myself to climb
passing a bamboo courtyard I meet a monk and talk
and spend another afternoon beyond this floating life

by Li She

Helped to inspire this post: http://skyraft.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/dragon-breath-river/

A Candlelion Poem and A Good-Talking Candle by Richard Brautigan

A Candlelion Poem

                             

                             For Michael

Turn a candle inside out

and you've got the smallest

portion of a lion standing

there at the edge of the

    shadows.

A Good-Talking Candle

I had a good-talking candle
last night in my bedroom.

I was very tired but I wanted
somebody to be with me,
    so I lit a candle

and listened to its comfortable
voice of light until I was asleep.

By Richard Brautigan from the collection The Pill Versus the Springhill Mine Disaster.