November 19, 2007

As if Dreaming

The sky becomes one with its clouds
the waves with their mist.
In Heaven's starry river, a thousand sails
dance.
As if dreaming, I return to the place
where the Highest lives,
and hear a voice from the heavens:
Where am I going?
I answer, "The road is long,"
and sigh; soon the sun will be setting.
Hard to find words in poems to carry
amazement:
on its ninety-thousand-mile wind,
the huge inner bird is soaring.
O wind, do not stop--
My little boat of raspberry wood
has not yet reached the Immortal Islands.

Chinese Poet Li Qingzhao
from Admiring Lotuses

(translated by Jane Hirshfield)

4 comments:

Jon said...

Raspberry wood??
They must have very different raspberries over there!

Seriously, what a beautiful poem. I'm thankful this day for knowing you and the wisdom you share.

Anonymous said...

Such beauty :) Thank you for sharing it.

Peace and Many Blessings!

Sam!! said...

Beautiful words...

Take care

Kuan Gung said...

Wow! beautiful words and wisdom...thank you