Wandering
A runaway son
will never come
into his own
My treasure
is the cloud on the peak
the moon over the valley
Traveling east or west
light and free
on the one road
I don't know whether
I'm on the way
or at home
To the Emperor's Messenger
The affairs of the world
are nothing to me
I am tired of coming and going
this poor hut is perfect for me
the one possession
of a monk who does nothing
In the stove
there is no fire
and no potato
so I have no time
to wipe my mouth
to greet the emperor's messenger
East Peak
From the beginning
people have gazed in awe at Taigaku
the East Peak
It shoots up into the heavens
on it the sun rises
the moon rises
Its original blue and yellow
are not among the colors
of other mountains
It will hold the spring sunlight
year after year
after year
For A Monk Going West
For many years
our friendship
has ripened
One morning
you say good-bye
and start down to the west
Stop trying to find the secret
of succeeding
as head priest
Look the sharp ax
has been in your hands
since the beginning
—————————————
EAST WINDOW
Asian translations by
WS MERWIN
Copper Canyon
