Friday, November 6, 2015

Slopes of Mount Kugami - Ryokan


Slopes
 of Mount Kugami –
 in the mountain’s shade
 a hut beneath the trees – 
how many years
 it’s been my home? 
The time comes
 to take leave of it –
 my .though/ts wilt
 like summer grasses,
 I wander back and forth
 like the evening star –
 till that hut of mine
 is hidden from sight, 
till that grove of trees 
can no longer be seen,
 at each bend
 of the long road, 
at every turning,
 I turn to look back
 in the direction of that mountain 

 translated by Burton Watson: from the book Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan.

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