Those of you who know my poetry know that I often like to translate ancient Chinese poetry and pair my own poems with them. Many of these are found in my book, Bamboo Cottage, seen elsewhere on this site, as well as at blurb.com. Perhaps I will post more of these in the future.
SITTING (REVERENCE MOUNTAIN)
A flock of birds flies up, then disappears.
One last cloud also drifts into emptiness.
The mountain and I gaze at each other,
untiring, until only the mountain remains.
Li Bai
THE FORCE OF LEAVING
Where did the wind take these birds?
Even the clouds have all flown away.
Alone in this mountain of emptiness,
at what point may I also be excused?
SITTING (REVERENCE MOUNTAIN)
A flock of birds flies up, then disappears.
One last cloud also drifts into emptiness.
The mountain and I gaze at each other,
untiring, until only the mountain remains.
Li Bai
THE FORCE OF LEAVING
Where did the wind take these birds?
Even the clouds have all flown away.
Alone in this mountain of emptiness,
at what point may I also be excused?