Watching dew evaporate in sunshine
a hermit wrapped in a threadbare coat
writes as if to his illusory self
Let everything disappear
Sitting beneath a pine
grasping his knees against howling wind
he loves his mind
crystal clear as spring water
A polar bear weakened by too far a swim
curled up in snow wounded
by horns of walrus themselves survivors
huddled against summer’s white Artic wind
What would make my tenacious mind
let this disappear?
Watching – in silence – fire ascending
where – in silence – her steeple bell hung
I think this is no illusion
twin towers standing and fiery collapse
Sitting by the window lush with
pink petunia I hear his couplet
We are flowers that open in the morning
and in the evening decline
~~~~~~~~~~~
Quotes from Cold Mountain
translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi & Peter Levitt
Notre Dame April 15, 2019