Visions of Desolation Mountain
Sonoma County Coast, Northern California
VI
I always wanted to go to East Cliff,
more years than I can remember,
until today I just grabbed a vine
and started up. Halfway up
wind and heavy mist closed in,
and the narrow path tugged at my shirt:
it was hard to get on. The slicker
mud under the moss on the rocks
gave way, and I couldn´t keep going.
So here I stay, under this cinnamon tree,
white clouds of my pillow,
I´ll just take a nap.
more years than I can remember,
until today I just grabbed a vine
and started up. Halfway up
wind and heavy mist closed in,
and the narrow path tugged at my shirt:
it was hard to get on. The slicker
mud under the moss on the rocks
gave way, and I couldn´t keep going.
So here I stay, under this cinnamon tree,
white clouds of my pillow,
I´ll just take a nap.
- Han Shan
XVII
Not going, not coming,
rooted, deep and still,
not reaching out , not reaching in,
just resting, at the center.
The single jewel, the flawless crystal drop,
in the blaze of its brilliance,
the way beyond
- Han Shan
