Short Poems

Mountains cover the white sun,
And oceans drain the golden river;
But you widen your view three hundred miles
By going up one flight of stairs.

This moment, this chance, O Sádhus: this moment, this chance.

Though one pour out millions, 'twill not return to him again: this precious birth as man.
Without companion, without comrade: each fares forth by himself alone.

Why sleepest thou? Arise, wake early: death shakes thee by the arm,
Says Kabír, Sing Govind's praises: the fair of this world is vanity.

Now I am silent and my name is Tacitus
But in this douce brightness
I have to pause now and then
Putting the moon behind the pine tree
To give myself respite
From her cruel and insinuating lustre.
O moon, scratch-pad of poets,
More meant against than meaning!

This is where your comrade must leave you,
Turning at the foot of these purple mountains. …
When shall we lift our cups again, I wonder,
As we did last night and walk in the moon?
The region is murmuring farewell
To one who was honoured through three reigns;
And back I go now to my river-village,
Into the final solitude.

Oh! clouds about the moon, from whence
She falters forth so debonnair!

The delicious wine of Lan-ling is of golden hue and flavorous.
Come, fill my precious glass, and let it glow in amber!
If you can only make me drunk, mine host, it is enough;
No longer shall I know the sorrow of a strange land.

Man makes a great fuss
About this planet
Which is only a ball-bearing
In the hub of the universe.
It reminds me
Of the staff of a humorous weekly
Sitting in grave conference
On a two-line joke.

Many a girl of the south is white and lucent.
Often she will steer her shallop and play.
In her coquettish eyes
Lurks the lure of the spring-time.
She will pluck the flowers of the water
For amorous wayfarers.

Coming this mountain way, no herb
Is lovelier than the violet.

Naked I lie in the green forest of summer.…
Too lazy to wave my white feathered fan.
I hang my cap on a crag,
And bare my head to the wind that comes
Blowing through the pine trees.