Thursday, June 20, 2013

 

A Glimmer of Clarity

A poem by Ryōkan (1758-1831), tr. Kazuaki Tanahashi:
In the mountain shade,
water in the moss
drips between rocks.
I feel a glimmer
of clarity.
The same, tr. Burton Watson:
Faint trickle of
mossy water from
a crevice in the mountain rock:
the clear still way
I pass through the world.
The same, tr. John Stevens:
Like the little stream
Making its way
Through the mossy crevices
I, too, quietly
Turn clear and transparent.
The same, tr. Ryūichi Abé and Peter Haskel:
Like the water that trickles
   through the moss-covered rocks
Thus do I live
Quiet, unnoticed
But free of impurity



<< Home
Newer›  ‹Older

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?